Benson eyes flying finish

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson hopes to take his team into the play-offs on a roll.

A sticky period of just two wins in six league games has seen his Oldham side drop to fourth place in Co-operative Championship One — and even that spot is under threat as the season draws to a close this weekend.

Benson is concentrating on defeating play-off rivals Hunslet on their own patch on Sunday, while also retaining hope that Swinton — the likeliest opponents in a straight knockout tie at Boundary Park the following week — manage to turn the tables at York.

“We have to win the Hunslet game to carry form and confidence with us into the play-offs,” said Benson, whose team could yet slip to fifth in the event of Blackpool defeating unbeaten Dewsbury on the final day, or climb to third if York lose on Saturday night.

“And there is also the fact that we need at least a bonus point to keep us ahead of Blackpool. You can’t rule them out of beating Dewsbury, particularly having had a good run in the Nines tournament at Headingley last week.

“At the moment we are playing for fourth while also hoping that on Saturday night, York slip up against Swinton.”

As for improving his side, who lost 37-24 at York, Benson will this week get down to business tightening up various aspects of play after the squad was given a weekend’s rest.
“We will be working on playing while we are under pressure, getting the ruck tight and that sort of thing,” added Benson, who hopes to have experienced duo Marcus St Hilaire (Achilles) and Paul Highton (knee) back from injury.

“We also have to get our decision-making right on the edges with ball in hand.

“It has been difficult recently, with changing the halves and outside backs on a regular basis meaning it has been a different team nearly every week.”

Keighley made sure of second place in the table by winning 28-10 at London Skolars on Friday night in their final match of the league season.

Elsewhere, Championship club Barrow have parted company with ex-Roughyeds coach Steve Deakin after just four matches in charge by mutual consent.