Benson pinning faith in Coyle

ADAMSONS Vehicle Care Centre have linked up with the Roughyeds in a new sponsorship deal which has provided the club’s commercial manager Julie Cleave with a customised car. The picture shows Adamsons general manager James Gore (centre) handing over the keys to Julie (right), while club mascot Roary the Roughyed gives his seal of approval.

THOMAS COYLE has been given the full support of his coach Tony Benson following a difficult experience at Blackpool.

The scrum-half, restored to the starting line-up after coming off the bench against London Skolars, saw three of his intended passes snapped up by Panthers players in the 30-30 draw — a result which has left the club praying for a slip-up from second-placed Keighley, who are at home to Hunslet this weekend.

Benson, though, isn’t considering withdrawing the 21-year-old ex-Wigan youngster from his side to face York on Sunday and points out that he provided plenty of positive contributions in the game.

“Things are never going to go perfectly in every game and Thomas was disappointed afterwards,” said Benson. “But he still set up and scored tries for us and did more good things than bad in the game.

“Things just go that way sometimes. But I back him totally and I am sure he will have a blinder against York.”

The home match against the Knights on Sunday, the last of the regular Co-operative Championship One season to be played at Boundary Park, is another must-win.

Benson’s men are now third in the table, a point behind Keighley, with York a further place and point behind as the campaign draws to an exciting climax.

The side ending the season second will have the advantage of a home play-off draw against the third-placed team in a qualifying semi-final and Oldham are still hopeful of a Cougars slip-up.

“The Blackpool result makes it tougher for us to get to second and we can’t afford to drop any more points now in the two tough games we have left,” added Benson, whose side travels to play Hunslet on Sunday, September 6.

“We targeted nine points from our last three matches and now it is partly out of our hands, but the two points we got (for the draw) are better than none.”

The players will convene for training tonight with no major injury concerns hanging over the squad.

Lucas Onyango (knee) played through the pain barrier at Blackpool, as did Jamie I’Anson (arm), while the condition of Paul Highton (knee) and Marcus St Hilaire (Achilles and calf) will be checked on.

Richard Mervill may need a scan to determine if he has sustained a ruptured bicep.