Benson wary of Hawks threat

NEIL RODEN: Clear to play after avoiding suspension.

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson is expecting a stiff examination of his side’s credentials this weekend, with Hunslet lying in wait at the South Leeds Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

The Hawks — beaten 54-30 by Oldham in last season’s Co-operative Championship play-offs — possess a squad bursting with quality at this level.

And despite the confidence boost that getting a first competitive win brings, Benson knows his team have it all to do if they are to make it two wins from three matches in the Northern Rail Cup pool stage.

“Hunslet are a team that has spent plenty of money on players,” said Benson, who watched Roughyeds see off Hornets RL 22-14 on Monday night at Sedgley Park RUFC.
“They have a very big squad with quality right through it. They did a good job on London Skolars last week and beat them by more points than Dewsbury managed. So they will be very tough and we will have to watch a number of their players.

“Our defence on Monday night was very good but there is certainly room for improvement in certain areas. We also have to get out attack going. We bombed three tries against Rochdale and if we hadn’t, it could have been quite a different scoreline.”

Benson will have to pit his wits against a Hawks squad containing plenty of experienced performers. Wily old heads the March twins, David and player-coach Paul, guide the team around the park along with evergreen hooker Richard Chapman, while ex-Castleford and Featherstone forward Tommy Haughey provides steel in the pack.

Former York man Danny Grimshaw is highly-rated at stand-off and it is clear that the Roughyeds face a tough task to get anything from the game.

One danger for Hunslet is that they come into this game slightly undercooked.

March’s men have only played one competitive game so far in 2010, easily seeing off London Skolars 60-12 away last weekend.

Oldham have not lost to Hunslet in any competition since way back in the 1999 season, in which the Hawks finished second to Dewsbury in the Northern Ford Premiership.

And they are boosted by the fact that Neil Roden escaped a suspension after being cited for an alleged high tackle.

Bookmakers, though, reckon 33-1 Hunslet are a better bet in the cup this year than 100-1 Oldham.


Rugby fixtures

Tonight — Engage Super League: Hull v Huddersfield (8pm); Salford v Crusaders (8pm); Wigan v Hull KR (8pm).

Saturday — Engage Super League: Castleford v Warrington (5.45pm).

National Conference League division one: Thornhill v Saddleworth Rangers (2pm). Division two: Crosfields v Oldham St Anne’s (2pm); Waterhead v East Leeds (2pm).

North-West Counties League, division one: Folly Lane v Oldham St Anne’s ‘A’ (2.30pm). Division three: Langworthy Reds v Saddleworth Rangers ‘A’ (2.30pm). Division four: Higginshaw v Widnes Tigers (2.30pm). Division five: Rochdale Cobras v Newton Storm (2.30pm); Waterhead ‘A’ v Bolton Mets (2.30pm).

Pennine League, division four: Hollinwood v Underbank Rangers (2.30pm).

Sunday (3pm unless stated) — Engage Super League: Bradford v St Helens; Harlequins RL v Catalans Dragons (2pm); Wakefield v Leeds (3.30pm).

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

Standard Cup, quarter-final: Waterhead v Saddleworth Rangers (2pm).

Gillette National Youth League: West Cumbria v Saddleworth Rangers.

North-West Counties Youth League, under-17s: Waterhead v Haydock Warriors.

Under-16s: Haydock Warriors v Fitton Hill; Moss Bank Bulldogs v Shaw Rhinos; Saddleworth Rangers v Folly Lane.

North-West Counties Challenge Cup, under-16s: Waterhead v Latchford Albion.