Benson’s delight at maximum haul

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson was delighted to pick up maximum points from his side’s Easter programme — but was equally unhappy with Workington’s relatively light workload.

The visitors to Sedgley Park yesterday went home with a bonus point after losing 16-14 despite mounting a strong second-half comeback.

The fact that it was only Town’s first game of the weekend, while Oldham doubled up after Good Friday’s tough 22-16 win at Hornets RL, grated with Benson.

“I am not sure how hard the RFL are thinking about it that Workington didn’t have to play on Friday,” he said, referring to Swinton’s successful request to rearrange their Good Friday home game with Workington for Sunday, June 20.

“They came here fresh and that is a huge advantage for them.

“We had a local derby — one of the most physical games of the year — on the Friday and then had to come up against a fresh side on Monday and that is not ideal.”

On the game itself, Benson was pleased with the way his team dug in after Workington’s revival threatened to take the game away from the home team.

The result leaves the Roughyeds in third place in Co-operative Championship One — level on points with Blackpool and leaders Hunslet and with a game in hand over the latter.

“If anyone had said at the start of the year that we would play these two games in four days and get six points out of them, I would have been very surprised,” said Benson. “It is a good effort.

“We made things hard for ourselves against Workington and we were a bit lax at times.

“I didn’t think a 10-0 lead was enough at half-time. It was a strong wind we were going into in the second half and Workington have got a great kicking game.

“They have a big pack as well and it tires you out. The boys were out on their feet but just kept going, so I can’t complain about that.”

Scott Mansfield picked up an ankle injury against Hornets RL and remains out of contention for Sunday’s trip to face South Wales Scorpions in Neath, but Matty Ashe (groin) and Craig Robinson (dead leg) should recover in time to make the trip.