Benson delighted with table-toppers

PAINFUL EXIT: Craig Robinson hurt an elbow in last night’s Roughyeds win.

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson could hardly contain his delight after a thumping of Rochdale took his team to the top of Northern Rail Cup group one.

After grinding the visitors down in the early stages, Oldham came up with a series of lovely attacking moves at Boundary Park to breach the Hornets defence time and time again.

With a number of stand-out performances right across the park, the 54-4 victory left Benson purring - and facing a selection dilemma for this weekend.

“The players are all fantastic,” he said. “At the end of the game there we ended up for 20 minutes having four props on the field and it was no trouble for them. They just got on and did it.

“I was really happy for Paul Highton. For his first game at home and being captain, he really led us well. Wayne Kerr came on and did a good job as well at getting us going forward and Chris Baines was sensational in everything he did.

“There is a good feeling in the camp and a good mentality there. It is exciting times here and I am loving it.”

Benson was also pleased with the patience his side showed, as well as the resolute defensive effort which restricted Rochdale’s potent attack to a solitary try.

With a home game against Sheffield Eagles coming up at Boundary Park on Sunday, the Oldham coach is now faced with a selection dilemma.

“I am looking forward to Sunday but I’m sure some of the players aren’t,” he added. “They will be a bit bruised and battered.

“The good thing is, Rochdale only had the ball for 13 sets in the second half. The score being what it was, it allowed me to take some players off with a view to freshening them up for Sunday.”

Unlucky Craig Robinson hyper-extended his elbow on his first run when coming on as substitute and will be examined at training tonight. Robert Roberts and Gary Sykes were said to be “fine” in terms of fitness for the weekend, but it is a question of if they force their way back in to the side.

“They will come into contention,” Benson said. “But it is very hard to take people out after that.”

In the night’s group two results, Doncaster won 22-18 at Batley, Featherstone beat Leigh 10-6 at home and York provided the shock of the night by defeating travelling Whitehaven 36-6.