Lots of reasons to be cheerful

Date published: 14 April 2014


BETTER. Much better - was how Scott Naylor summed up Oldham’s 52-16 win.

He was made up with the way his players battled against all odds in the mismatched Challenge Cup-tie at Bradford Bulls, but at best dissatisfied by previous games.

This one was different; this one was a win AND a performance that gave Naylor renewed optimism for Friday’s top of the table clash at Hunslet Hawks.

He said: “Good result and better still we looked a lot more like our old selves. I could see a lot of ‘last season’ in this performance and that’s what we need to be striving for.

“This was one of those games in which we needed to be on top from start to finish. Thunder undoubtedly have some quality about them and have been further strengthened by the recruitment of four Hull KR players on dual registration.

“I still think we’ve a lot more to come, but at least this is a big step in the right direction and one that has enabled us to keep our unbeaten record in the league.”

“It’s not often I talk about individual players in what is essentially a team game, but I do think Kenny Hughes’s performance deserves to be highlighted. He was outstanding in all aspects of his game - his best contribution to the Roughyeds’ cause since I’ve been at the club. He was terrific.”