Hornets effort showed just how far we have come

THERE HAVE been problems at the club for four or five weeks now and it finally got to the point where we realised we just have got to get on with it — and haven't looked back since.

I think the good stuff started against Keighley, so it wasn't really about the four boys leaving as that happened a week later.

Part of the reason we seem to have turned the corner is that players are coming in to the side who haven't had much of a chance before to push for spots in the team and have been desperate to impress.

There is also now a clear, tangible goal there for us right now. Win all our games and we will end up in second place — the prime position for the play-offs.

Another difference is that the supporters are really getting behind us. While there was previously a lot of negativity, it seems to have disappeared now and I hope that continues.

The Nines weekend at Blackpool last month was probably where we were at our lowest and I am including myself in that as well. We were all very down.

But when you hit rock bottom there is only one way to go.

And we have to now keep striving in the games we have left, all of which will be like Grand Finals.

It is important that we realise that the Rochdale game represents a good start, but no more than that.

There is a lot for us to work on and we have to improve a lot for the games that lie ahead, mainly in our defence on the edges and on supporting breaks.

We will have to be driven once again tomorrow night, as London Skolars pushed Workington all the way for the points at the weekend.

They will be really up for the occasion, especially with it being a televised match. So we have to be careful to approach the game in the right way.

Of the debutants against Rochdale on Sunday, Matty Ashe hasn't played for a while as he had injured his neck and he came up with a pretty good effort for us.

I thought the timing of Matty's pass for Chris Baines's first try was terrific and showed his skill level, as did the way he kicked the goals.

Both Matty and Jamie Russo played after only having one training session with us to get used to systems and both will benefit from being around the squad in the build-up to tomorrow night's game.

The other two new boys we have signed went well in the reserve game, particularly considering it was both their first games since September of last year, but we are not going to rush them. Big Luke Rhoden looked very strong and Mike Priest took his two tries well. Hopefully we are on to a good thing with them.

Finally, a mention for the children's summer training camps that are being held at Chadderton FC and run by Chris Baines.

The next one starts on Monday, August 17, running for a week between 10am and 2pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to noon on the Friday. The cost of the course is £40.

tonybenson@oldham-chronicle.co.uk