Benson’s sights fixed on Hornets

TONY BENSON isn’t about to get swept up in Challenge Cup fever.

The Roughyeds coach watched his side defeat FC Lézignan 60-30 at Boundary Park in a thrill-a-minute fourth round clash yesterday. Report on Page 22.

But instead of dreaming about drawing the likes of St Helens, Wigan or Warrington in the last 16, Benson is keen to keep minds trained on the most important fixture — the next one.

“I am totally focused on Rochdale on Friday,” said the Kiwi. “I know it is a cliché, but that is how it has to be.”

The draw for the fifth round is to take place tomorrow afternoon at 2.30pm, at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, with Barrie McDermott picking out the away balls.

It is then to be relayed on BBC regional news programmes later that evening.

The full list of clubs in the hat comprises Oldham, St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Hull KR, Huddersfield, Castleford, Catalans, Wakefield, Salford, Halifax, Featherstone, Sheffield, Batley, Gateshead and Rochdale.

Benson did admit that, looking at the wider picture, the cup defeat of the French champions had given Oldham a welcome shot in the arm.

“I am really happy to have made it for the club,” he added.

“It is a fantastic achievement and now we are either going to get a big club or someone who we can challenge and possibly get past.”

Injury-wise, the Roughyeds emerged more or less unscathed despite coming up against a side that was physically very imposing.

Marcus St Hilaire came off in the second half with cramp and Thomas Coyle played on through a slight groin strain.

Benson could welcome into the fold injured quartet Robert Roberts (ribs), Tommy Goulden (hamstring), Danny Halliwell (back) and Stevie Gibbons (shoulder) for the trip to Spotland in The Co-operative Championship One on Friday afternoon.

Wayne Kerr is also likely to come back into the mix, having served his one-match RFL ban yesterday.