Tony: Start could cost us

TONY Benson admits that Oldham could live to regret their stuttering home performance against Dewsbury.

The 36-12 home reverse to the title favourites leaves the Roughyeds snookered behind the black ball as far as the race for top spot in Co-operative Championship One is concerned.

Without the consolation prize of a bonus point to show for their efforts against the Rams, Oldham lie fourth in the table — two points adrift of yesterday’s opponents, who have a game in hand — with another tough game at home to unbeaten Swinton coming up this weekend.

While Benson held his hands up to admit to being beaten by a better side, though, he isn’t about to throw in the towel on the club’s chances of gaining that automatic promotion place.

“Every game is important this season,” said a disappointed Benson, after the team’s second defeat in five league games.

“Make-or-break will come later in the year, but it is certainly one of those games we will look back on and regret we haven’t picked up three points, or a bonus point.

“There was no bounce going to go our way on the day. But at the same time you have to work hard to make it happen and they did just that.

“They made everything happen for themselves.”

The only injury worry to emerge from the game at this stage concerns Danny Halliwell, who suffered a dead leg in the early stages.

Neil Roden (back) and Paul Reilly (ankle) were forced to pull out of the squad at a late stage due to injury and were replaced by Gary Sykes and Lucas Onyango, who started on the bench.

o THE RESERVES lost 50-30 at home to Hunslet in their first league game of the season at Sedgley Park. Wayne Kerr scored a hat-trick of tries for Oldham.