Paul aiming to hit the heights

PAUL HIGHTON (left): Confident of a bold show from the Roughyeds.

PAUL HIGHTON is confident that a fully-firing Oldham can storm Co-operative Championship One.

The former Salford City Reds prop forward admits Sunday’s home game against Dewsbury is one the players have been eagerly awaiting just as much as the fans.

Plenty of fireworks are expected in the middle of the pitch when the two pre-season title favourites meet at Boundary Park (3pm) and as far as Highton is concerned, if the Roughyeds come out on top in that department then the game should belong to Tony Benson’s side.

“We have played it down a little bit this week as we don’t want to have played the game in our heads before we step out onto the pitch,” said the 32-year-old vice-captain, who has missed the last two games with a wrist injury.

“It is important that we set out from the start to put on a strong performance, one that sends out a message to the rest of the division that we mean business.

“We are confident that if we stick to the game plan from start to finish that they won’t be able to handle us.

“I know Warren Jowitt (Dewsbury’s coach) and he will no doubt bring over a side that is physical. It will be our job to nullify their go-forward.

“We have the players to do that and if we can get on top in the forwards then I don’t think any side in this league can handle the pace and skill of our backs.”

Oldham currently sit third in the Championship One table, behind Hunslet and leaders Swinton — who are the next arrivals at Boundary Park on Sunday week.

Successive victories would wipe out both surviving unbeaten records within the division and provide a significant boost to the club’s title chances.

Hunslet are the next side to travel across the Pennines to take on the Roughyeds on Sunday, May 17, before Boundary Park closes for the annual summer break in order to repair the playing surface.

Dewsbury have enjoyed an excellent start to the season under Jowitt.

He stepped into the role after taking over from previous incumbent Andy Kelly, the Ireland coach who lost his job following Oldham’s 58–12 thrashing of the then-National League One side in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup last season.

Jowitt is the reigning official Co-operative Championship One coach of the month and has picked up three wins from as many league games played so far.

The Rams’ only loss this season came in a 28-18 reverse at Sheffield earlier this month in the Challenge Cup fourth round and they have claimed the scalps of higher-division opponents Featherstone and Batley in 2009.

The Sheffield defeat came a week after Dewsbury had beaten Rochdale 33-31 in a thrilling league clash at Spotland, winning thanks to a last-gasp penalty goal from the halfway line after a Hornets kick restart had sailed straight out of play.

Wales winger Bryn Powell and second row Andy Bostock were both included in the official divisional team of the month for March, alongside Oldham trio Andy Ballard, Thomas Coyle and Phil Joseph.

Dewsbury’s top try scorer so far this season is Kane Epati, the man who ran in a club record six tries in a single match against the Roughyeds for Doncaster in 2006.

He is currently on nine for the season, while stand-off Pat Walker is the Rams’ top points scorer with 98.