Roughyeds are in right mood

TONY BENSON: Players are working hard to iron out faults.

OLDHAM Roughyeds head into the Northern Rail Cup pool game against Hornets RL in good spirits following a positive showing last week.

The 24-12 defeat against an experienced and highly-fancied Leigh Centurions side last time out will have supplied Tony Benson’s side with confidence, as well as arming the team with a bonus point which could be crucial when it comes to the end of the initial pool stage.

Three points against the Roughyeds’ old foes is a must if qualification hopes are to remain beyond the weekend.

And even though the Law Cup was lost to Hornets last week, Benson will field a vastly different side this time around at Sedgely Park on Monday (8pm kick-off).

“The fact it is a local derby is the key,” said the Roughyeds coach. “I enjoy them and I know that the players do as well.

“The players who were in the team at Leigh did very well and we should have won the game.

“We were competitive, but the challenge for us now is to turn good territory and position into points as our tries generally came off kicks.

“We are working hard on that part of our attacking game.

“We are also looking to tighten up our defence more as though a large proportion of it was good against Leigh, some small parts let us down.”

Hornets have yet to play a competitive fixture in the competition, as their match at home to York was postponed due to poor weather last weekend.


FIXTURES:

Tonight — Engage Super League: Huddersfield v Bradford (8pm, TV); Leeds v Castleford (8pm); Wigan v Crusaders (8pm).

Saturday — Engage Super League: St Helens v Hull FC (5.45pm, TV).

BARLA National Cup, round two: Hunslet Warriors v Higginshaw; Oldham St Anne’s v Rylands Sharks; Wigan St Cuthbert’s v Saddleworth Rangers.

National Conference League, division two: Waterhead v Stanley Rangers.

Sunday (3pm unless stated) — Engage Super League: Hull KR v Salford; Wakefield v Catalans (3.30pm); Warrington v Harlequins.

Northern Rail Cup: Barrow v Blackpool (2pm); Batley v Widnes (2pm); Featherstone v Sheffield; Gateshead v Workington; Halifax v Dewsbury; Keighley v Whitehaven; London Skolars v Hunslet (2pm); OLDHAM v HORNETS RL; Swinton v Doncaster; York v Leigh.