Benson looks to build on success

Lucas Onyango: Lost the ball in contact

TONY BENSON is relieved his side got through a tough period unscathed.

Oldham take a break from league action this week, travelling to face fellow Co-operative Championship One high-fliers Hunslet Hawks at the South Leeds Stadium in round four of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

After a cramped Easter period which brought two matches — and a pair of wins — inside four days against Hornets RL and Workington Town, the Roughyeds travelled to South Wales Scorpions at the weekend.

Travelling there and back on the day, the team emerged with another tight victory, winning 22-16 at The Gnoll in Neath.

“It was a tight, physical game down there,” said Benson, who admitted his relief to have enjoyed a full week of preparation ahead of Sunday’s test.

“They are a big side who frustrated us and put us under a lot of pressure.

“We were well on top at 22-6 up but then they came back into it.

“Lucas (Onyango) had a good game but lost the ball in contact and they went up the other end to score, which gave them a sniff.

“To be honest after the exertions of the Easter weekend the hardest game is your next one and it showed.

“We have defended our errors very well, but our attack needs work. We need to score more points because at the moment, we our being looked after by our defence.

“We have played five games now and all against good sides, achieving our goal of getting five wins from those matches so we are very happy with that.”

The 100-per-cent record of Benson’s men includes a win against Hunslet — their only defeat in seven matches, a sequence which includes a notable 42-36 triumph at last year’s Championship grand finalists Halifax.

“Hunslet are putting a good number of points on teams and are a big strong side who play on a small field,” Benson added.

“But we will go there with confidence that we can do a good job.”

Oldham’s coach also paid tribute to the level of support the side received in South Wales, with plenty of fans making the long 350-mile round trip to cheer on their side.

“Again, the boys were blown away by the fact that the ground seemed to be all Oldham,” Benson said.

“The fans were loud, proud and really good and the boys all appreciate the efforts that were made to get down there.”

Of the other stand-out fourth round ties this weekend, Siddal host Batley at the Shay in Halifax, a game where ex-Oldham winger Lee Greenwood will take up his regular coaching duties for the amateurs despite currently being contracted to the Bulldogs.

Batley coach Karl Harrison banished Greenwood from training in the build-up to the tie.

Hull FC take on Leeds, who last won the Challenge Cup in 1999, and other all-Super League games feature Harlequins versus Wakefield at The Stoop, Catalans against visiting Salford and Huddersfield hosting Hull KR.

Three French clubs outside of Super League remain involved. Limoux are at home to Leigh, Toulouse travel to St Helens and Lezignan are at Widnes.