Coyle tickled pink by Oldham revival

PINK AND PROUD: Thomas Coyle, in action against London Skolars, is determined to help his Roughyeds side achieve promotion.

Roughyeds round up

ROUGHYEDS hero Thomas Coyle has no intention of latching on to the mass exodus from the club and is keen to stay to the end of the season and beyond — ideally, in order to play in the Co-operative Championship.

Bearing a bright pink hairstyle every bit as shocking — though vastly more palatable to Roughyeds fans — as the events which led to the sudden departure to Championship front-runners Barrow of his brother James and three other prominent players, Coyle produced a moment of magic to help tie up another crucial three points against London Skolars last Thursday.

Taking control of events after Neil Roden had scrambled to within a few feet of the line five minutes from full-time, the younger of the two Coyles scooted across the line from right to left, threw a clever dummy and shot through a gap to slide home for a try which was acclaimed by the vast majority in the vocal crowd of 1,419 at Boundary Park.

It was his 10th of the season, but also his first try since notching a double against the same opposition in a 78-10 win in May.

Coyle’s effort made it 24-22 to the home side and as Roughyeds fans continued to blow a sigh of relief, that lead was further extended by winger Lee Greenwood as the clock ticked down.

Up to that point, Skolars’ sterling efforts had seen them hold on to the lead throughout. But the side with one win all season eventually ran out of gas and Oldham picked up a vital win which keeps them in the coveted second spot ahead of Sunday’s test away to Blackpool at Fylde RUFC.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking but we always knew that we were capable of winning the game,” said Coyle, who has now shaved off his charity inspired bleached pink hair, of the unexpectedly tense Skolars game.

“It was always going to be a tough game for us, with Skolars wanting to impress on their first appearance in front of the cameras, and they turned up and put us under pressure.

“At the same time, we possibly took them lightly and were a bit complacent and you can’t afford to be like that.”

In addition to Coyle’s former Wigan academy team-mate and sibling James, Oldham have recently been forced to quickly rebuild after losing the services of key men Andy Ballard, Danny Halliwell and Dave Allen — the latter having formed a potent understanding with the scrum-half or hooker on the right side of attack.

But after coach Tony Benson put together a scratch side which fought hard in going down at Dewsbury before posting successive home wins against Hornets RL and Skolars within five days of each other, Coyle says that the spirit in the camp has improved.

He also believes that, despite three tough-looking fixtures remaining in Blackpool, York at home and Hunslet away, the team can keep hold of second spot in Co-operative Championship One to gain a home draw in the elimination semi-final, a win in which would grant passage to a third successive play-off final.

“I think the players leaving has brought us closer as a group,” Coyle added.

“We were close before but now we have been forced to be even more of a team in order to do well in games.

“Losing those four players, plus Two Bobs (sacked captain Robert Roberts) we have been left without some big personalities.

“But the players who weren’t getting a look-in are now playing and they have brought plenty of enthusiasm with them as they want to show what they can do.

“We are confident going into the final three games of winning them all. The big one is Hunslet away for me and I think that getting good results between now and the end of the league season will set us up very well for the play-offs.

“If we end up finishing second we will get a home tie and I really don’t mind who we end up playing in that. If we tighten up our defence a bit there is no reason why we can’t beat anybody in this division.

“I am staying to the end of the season and then hopefully I’ll be here again next year.”


REMAINING FIXTURES

ROUGHYEDS —

Sunday, August 16: Blackpool Panthers (A) 3pm

Sunday, August 23: York City Knights (H) 3pm

Sunday, September 6: Hunslet Hawks (A) 3pm


KEIGHLEY —

Sunday, August 16: Rochdale (A) 3pm

Sunday, August 23: Hunslet (H) 3pm

Friday, August 28: London Skolars (A) 6.30pm


YORK —

Sunday, August 16: London Skolars (H) 2pm

Sunday, August 23: Oldham (A) 3pm

Saturday, September 5: Swinton (H) 6pm