Benson targets derby joy

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson is hoping his side picks up where it left off tomorrow.

Oldham enter the derby clash against Hornets RL at Spotland (3pm kick-off) having had a three-week break from action as a result of rearranged matches.

So far, the team has picked up two victories in as many games played in Co-operative Championship One.

An impressive 38-20 win at Swinton Lions was followed up by an exciting 29-16 triumph away at title favourites Hunslet Hawks — who have since gone on to win away at last season’s Championship grand finalists Halifax in the Northern Rail Cup — and confidence remains high in the camp ahead of the big derby.

“Getting a game under our belts is important now, though obviously I would prefer not to be playing twice in the space of four days,” said Benson, referring to the Easter Monday fixture against Workington at Sedgley Park.

“As I said to the players, Rochdale were down in numbers last week (when they lost 44-8 at Hunslet) but I would expect most of those players to be back this week.

“It is always a difficult task over there as they lift themselves to play against Oldham.”

Benson has named a 21-man squad for the weekend’s games, with only Kashley Watkins (broken wrist) currently absent through injury.

Hornets enter the game on the back of two league defeats in four matches.

The manner of the Hunslet loss did not impress Hornets coach John Stankevitch, who is looking for a big improvement tomorrow.

In the Hornets side at the South Leeds Stadium were former Roughyeds man Gareth Hayes and Dean Gorton, but Chris Hough missed the game through injury and utility player Wayne Corcoran has left the club.

Oldham (from): Ashe, Bentley, Boults, Chandler, Clarke, Ellison, Fogerty, Heaton, Hodson, I’Anson, Kerr, Mansfield, O’Connor, Onyango, Reilly, Robinson, M Roden, N Roden, St Hilaire, Sutton, Whitmore.