Deakin wary of Cougars threat

RICHARD MERVILL

ROUGHYEDS coach Steve Deakin wants Oldham to be mentally switched-on for the full 80 minutes against dangerous Keighley this weekend.

A recent run of four successive wins — including a superb 32-24 home victory over promotion challengers Gateshead — has seen the Cougars keep pace with National League Two’s front-runners.

That victory over Thunder was achieved despite Barry Eaton’s men finding themselves 20 points adrift at one stage and they arrive at Boundary Park attempting to pull of a home-and-away double over the Roughyeds, having won 26-12 back in April.

At the same time, Deakin is pleased with the form his own side have shown recently, culminating in the 36-16 televised home win over Doncaster last week.

The Oldham coach, while respecting the abilities of the opposition, is hoping for more of the same to maintain the heat on second-placed Gateshead.

“Keighley beat ourselves and Gateshead and as the old line goes, it is anybody, anywhere in this division,” said Deakin.

“Barry Eaton has done a really good job there. They are starting to get consistency to their performances and are putting results together.

“If they get their best team out on the pitch then they can be a match for anybody.”

Deakin maintains that the defeat at Cougar Park came about as a result of a handful of key errors both from his own players and the officials on the day.

He also pointed out that while Keighley benefited that day, it was a similar story for Oldham when claiming a 16-14 win in Workington three weeks ago that was barely deserved.

“I wouldn’t say that we have failed to get up for any game,” Deakin added. “Sometimes when you lose concentration you get punished, other times you don’t. Some people lose sight of that, but it is my job to make sure the players don’t.

“We put in a lot of effort at Keighley yet got on the end of a few terrible calls, such as the blatant forward pass for one of their tries.

“It gave them momentum, but that is the nature of the game. “

Roughyeds prop forward Luke Sutton — who, according to a rumour in the trade press, caught the eye of Super League scouts with his promising show in the televised Doncaster clash — is set to play against his former team-mates and should join another former Cougars man Richard Mervill in the front row.

Former Waterhead centre Mick Fogerty will miss the clash with his home-town club, having been sent off and subsequently handed a two-game ban after a high tackle in the second half of a 36-22 win at Rochdale.

But Jamaine Wray, the hooker who is such a dangerous runner out of dummy-half, will test Oldham’s defence around the ruck.