Skolars way better than many led to believe

Benson’s Beat

HAVING watched last week’s televised game back again, there is no doubt that Skolars played their part really well on what was a big night for everyone.

They defended superbly and with good line speed and attacked us with pace and in a variety of different ways.

I really don’t think it is a fluke that Workington Town — who Skolars very nearly beat in the capital, going down 24-18 — went so close against our closest rivals for second spot Keighley this weekend, only losing 22-16 at home.

Skolars are a much better side now than they are given credit for.

We gave up 27 sets in total during the game and most of those were in the first half. We were so tired at half-time from all the tackling, which came from losing the ball so often — and when you are tired you are more prone to mistakes. It is a vicious circle.

Our defensive effort was very good and the effort certainly wasn’t lacking. What we need to remember is that previously, we had players who could win games pretty much through their own individual efforts, but now we have to play together as a team in order to achieve the results we want.

I have been looking at the remaining fixtures and it is clear that we have to win them all now. The Blackpool match speaks for itself in terms of difficulty for us, as they have spent a lot of money on players recently and we have to travel over there to play which won’t be easy.

If we do win the three games we have left in the league, it will mean that we will finish in second behind Dewsbury in Co-operative Championship One.

That means we will end up in the top play-off position, provided that Keighley don’t win all of their matches to bridge the 124-point difference we have over them at the moment.

If we drop points against any of Blackpool, York or Hunslet then our fate is in the hands of others and that isn’t a position we want to find ourselves in.

I would like to make a mention of how supportive our fans were towards us again last Thursday night. The atmosphere was great, even though we were losing until the latter stages, and the positivety certainly transmits itself and helps the players out.

tonybenson@oldhamchronicle.co.uk