Benson braced for tough play-off test

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson is expecting to do battle with a strong Swinton side this weekend.

Vastly experienced playmaker Graham Holroyd, full-back Wayne English and ex-Oldham second row Tommy Grundy were among those who didn’t play in the Lions’ 46-28 defeat at York on the last day of the regular season.

With knockout rugby now on the horizon in the form of this Co-operative Championship One elimination play-off at Boundary Park on Sunday, those men could all be back in for a game Benson believes will be tough – not least because he is still unsure exactly what team he will be able to select.

“I am expecting them to put up a good fight and we will have to get things right or it will be our last game together,” said Benson ahead of the straight knockout tie.

“It would be nice to be able to train all week with the team you will be putting out on the field, but that just isn’t possible at the moment for us with injuries.

“That is the way it goes. We had a meeting before training last night and we are all mentally ready.”

Phil Joseph (hamstring) and Lee Greenwood (shoulder) have, at this stage, only a “slim” chance of making the game. Decisions on the pair will be made at tomorrow morning’s final training session.

On the plus side, captain Tommy Goulden returns from a bout of illness to strengthen the second row, with Craig Littler fit once again to compete for a centre spot after also recovering after feeling unwell last week before the Hunslet game.

Matty Ashe is eligible to play despite being on loan from Swinton, but fellow loanee Craig Lawton isn’t expected to play any further part this year due to personal difficulties.

It all means that Benson names the same 20-man squad at this stage as last week.

Should Oldham win this game, they will then face the winners of the Blackpool-Hunslet play-off tie at Boundary Park the following Sunday, again in a straight knockout game.

Oldham (from): O’Connor, Onyango, Russo, Littler, Greenwood, N Roden, Coyle, Boults, M Roden, Kerr, Goulden, Baines, I’Anson, Sykes, Menzies, Joseph, Robinson, St Hilaire, Reilly, Ashe.