Defence is key to success - Cardiss

GOING forward, in-form Oldham currently look as dangerous as they have at any other stage of this year’s campaign.

As part of a side which has breezed its last five games, Danny Halliwell has shown his Super League class, scoring in each of his last four — three of which have seen him start in his less preferred position as a hard-running second row forward.

Neil Roden, refreshed after a much-needed rest from travelling down for the midweek fixture at London Skolars, has found form at the right time, directing play and going over for four tries in two appearances including a hat-trick in the 44-10 win at Blackpool.

And the prolific Mick Nanyn is benefiting from the burgeoning try tally. As well as chipping in with three of his own in the last five games, the centre has added 36 goals to take him to an overall points total of 290 for the season — more than any other player in the country.

But for Daryl Cardiss, who returned from a four-month injury absence to play in the 40-16 win over Gateshead last week, it is the collective defensive effort in the Roughyeds’ recent run which has been the biggest positive.

Only eight tries conceded in the last four games would appear to indicate Oldham are in rude health, despite a draining and injury stained month of June which saw the club play seven times.

The Roughyeds will need to continue to play tough with the three-match period that lies ahead. It starts with an away game at Workington on Sunday (3pm kick off), followed up by face-offs against fellow high-flyers Barrow and Doncaster. All need to be turned into wins to keep up the momentum for a top two finish.

“These teams are in the frame for the play-offs and automatic promotion, so they are the type of games you want to be playing in,” said Cardiss of the forthcoming fixtures.

“All the lads have a lot of confidence at the moment. As well as scoring points, which is obviously important, the really pleasing thing is that our defence has been good and we need to carry that on.

“We can’t slip up now as we need as many points as we can get with only a few games left. But I feel we have got it within us to do it. On our day, no team in this division can live with us.”

Workington’s form so far this season has been mixed.

They managed to defeat Doncaster 32-10 at Derwent Park to inflict the biggest defeat of the season on Ellery Hanley’s men, but failed to repeat the trick last week in going down 40-2 at the Keepmoat Stadium. However, Workington were missing 12 players for that game through injury and unavailability.

Town are currently seventh in the table, having picked up just four wins from 14 games played.

Many of the losses suffered have been close calls, though, indicating they perhaps have not been enjoying the rub of the green. Seven bonus points in defeat is the largest such tally in the whole of the National Leagues.