Benson calls for calm before final

STAYING cool, calm and collected is the order of the day for Roughyeds coach Tony Benson ahead of the play-off final.

Three wins in knockout rugby, the latter two against Hunslet and York being particularly impressive, leaves the club on the verge of promotion to the Co-operative Championship, with Keighley standing in the way in Sunday’s clash at Warrington (3.05pm kick off).

But Benson, who will give the injured parties in his provisional 19-man squad until Saturday morning to prove their fitness, is urging his players to keep their feet on the ground and concentrate on the task in hand rather than the potential prize at the end of it.

“We have been professional and clinical in training this week,” said Benson, who adds centre pair Craig Littler and Marcus St Hilaire to the 17-man squad which saw off York 44-14 last week.

“We are fully focused on the job we have to do. We have trained well and if we follow the plan, everything else will take care of itself.”

Benson has decisions to make in terms of who plays in the outside backs, with 19-year-old Ben Heaton impressing in the York victory in only his second senior appearance.

“Ben’s chances of playing are as good as those of the other players,” Benson said. “It really comes down to the mix of injuries we have and that will shape the tough decisions I have to make.”

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

Keighley, who finished second in the Co-operative Championship One table, have plenty of danger men to watch out for. Scrum-half Danny Jones has scored in every one of the Cougars’ 25 matches in league and cup this season - the only player in the country to have managed the feat - while stand-off partner Jon Presley has 24 tries to his name.

Coach Barry Eaton, who will watch the game from the stand due to a touchline ban, is expecting a close one.

“The game is evenly poised and both clubs have a 50/50 chance of securing promotion,” said Eaton. “We’ve had two tough games against them in the league and they’ve had some adversity but they seem a really close bunch at this moment in time.”

FINAL tickets are on sale until 7pm tonight and the office on Lansdowne Road is also opening from 9.30am until noon tomorrow for last-minute purchases.

“We want as many people as possible to get to Warrington to cheer us on,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

WIN or lose against Keighley, Oldham’s players will mix with fans afterwards at the Chadderton Reform Club on Middleton Road and the squad is due to arrive at the venue between 6pm and 6.30pm.


WIN or lose on Sunday, the Oldham players will share their experiences with their supporters to bring a memorable 2009 season to an end.

The club has booked the upper room at Chadderton Reform Club, on Middleton Road, from 5.30pm onwards for fans and players together to drop the curtain on this season, hopefully while celebrating victory and promotion to the Co-operative Championship.

The players are due to arrive at the Reform Club somewhere between 6pm and 6.30 and fans are invited to welcome home their Grand Final heroes and spend some time with them as the season comes to a close.

“It will be a nice way for the fans to spend a Grand Final evening,” said the Roughyeds’ commercial manager Julie Cleave.