Joseph relief at return to action

BEST foot forward and raring to go: Roughyeds’ Thomas Coyle shows off the special ankle splint which it is hoped will protect him from further ankle ligament trouble and enable him to play a part in tomorrow’s televised Championship One clash at York.

THE WAIT is over.

When Oldham take to the field at York’s Huntington Stadium for tomorrow night’s televised clash (7.30pm kick off), it will come as a relief to the players just to get into a matchday frame of mind again.

It is now over a month since the Roughyeds last played out a Co-operative Championship One fixture, defeating Swinton Lions 44-26 at Sedgley Park in a strange performance which veered wildly from the awful to the majestic.

Eleven days later, Tony Benson’s men went down 32-18 to higher-division opponents Featherstone in the quarter-finals of the Northern Rail Cup, again displaying potent attacking skills from all areas of the field to score some very eye-catching tries.

Oldham supporters will hope the frustrating break between games won’t have an adverse impact on the team’s fluency in terms of creating chances, while also providing a chance to shore up a defence which has at times this season proven to be slightly leaky.

Powerful Roughyeds man Phil Joseph can’t wait to get back out on the field again and he believes the gap from the week-in, week-out action could work to Oldham’s benefit as they bid to chase down Dewsbury at the top of the table.

“I have had to take my frustrations out on other things,” said Joseph, who is currently being used as a hooker rather than a marauding loose forward by Benson.

“I have been doing quite a bit of boxing training in the meantime which has helped.

“But it feels horrible not playing. You get into a routine and when that is broken it is difficult.

“We really need to get our season rolling now, as we have already had a few hiccups.

“In that respect, perhaps this breather has come at the right time. It can help give you a bit of perspective on things and we have had some positive team meetings in the meantime.

“We have been training really well and hopefully we have ironed out those little chinks that have been affecting us.

“I know we have been saying it a lot over the past two seasons, but as a group we haven’t hit top form yet.

“We beat a top team in Widnes, for example, but have also lost to lesser sides.

“Our best form has been there in patches, but is a case of sustaining it now across the final nine games.”

York’s last league encounter saw them pick up a 34-6 win at Hunslet Hawks, though their cause was helped by the sending off in the 15th minute of Neil Lowe for kicking out.

After that match at the South Leeds Stadium, player-coach Paul March said: “Everyone will be looking at the (Oldham) fixture and if we win we will go second.

“It’s up to everyone to keep chasing Dewsbury but second spot is up for grabs.”

Joseph knows it won’t be easy securing a result at a tricky venue — he was a try scorer in the team that lost 40-24 at York last season — but he is still confident of picking up a vital three points.

“They are a difficult side to play against, especially at home,” Joseph added. “Players tend not to like playing there and the crowd can be intimidating.

“If we prepare properly, though, we have a group of very talented players at the club and we need to show what we can do.”

The Knights will leapfrog the Roughyeds should they claim victory in tomorrow’s game. Dewsbury are currently top by eight points, with Oldham having played a game less.