Oldham on a high for final push

STEVE DEAKIN: “We all agreed we need to raise the bar for the next three games”

WITH a six-point haul now the sole focus for the Roughyeds, you won’t find coach Steve Deakin moaning about fixture congestion.

A period of three matches inside eight days ended last week with a rousing home victory over Barrow, albeit following two away defeats at York and Doncaster which leaves the club’s automatic promotion hopes in the hands of others.

To claim second place and with it, National League One rugby in 2009, Oldham now need to hope that Barrow slip up twice more in their three remaining games — ideally starting tonight, at home to Keighley — while winning their own two remaining fixtures, starting with Sunday’s match at Swinton (3pm kick-off).

Despite an array of injuries in the camp at the back end of a wearying season, the Roughyeds’ 34-22 win over the Raiders has increased optimism around the club.

They reckon even if second place is now beyond them, a third-place finish would still be a good prize — giving them a week’s rest prior to a home clash which provides the winners with a path straight through to the Grand Final in Warrington on Sunday, September 28.

“We have got two games to go in the regular season and even if we win both of them, we are still not sure where we stand,” said Deakin (pictured), whose side follow a tough trip to Swinton with a home clash with Workington seven days later.

“It is indicative of how tight the division has been this season.

“You only have to look at who has beaten Barrow to see that there are no easy games in this competition and we have to make sure we get up for every match.”

Despite the thick-and-fast run of games which hasn’t eased the injury situation — a total of 11 players needed treatment in training last night — Deakin admits that these problems come with the territory,

And the mantra for the Roughyeds now is as it has been all year: concentrate on doing all you can to pick up maximum points and let everything else take care of itself.

Deakin added: “It is part and parcel of being a coach that sometimes you have to manage adversity as well as the good times.

“At the moment we are managing injuries and the physical aspects of playing, as well as the pressure that is being felt by everyone associated with the club.”

Paul Kidd’s Swinton turned over Oldham in the corresponding fixture at Sedgley Park last season and despite a poor run of form which has seen them lose seven in eight, Deakin is aware of the quality the Lions possess.

“Swinton have signed good players lately in David Bates and Michael Wainwright and that is in addition to the people there who have a good pedigree — players like Martin Moana, Wayne English, Andy Saywell and Gary Hulse,” said the Oldham coach.

“There is a lot of experience in there. It is fair to say that results haven’t been going for them, but that can happen when you are low on confidence.

“They will believe they can still make the top eight and to do that, they have to beat us.

“A play-off place offers a big carrot for the coach to put in front of the players and I am sure for the first 30 minutes it will be a big challenge. It is all about how you ride that challenge.”