Skolars in firing line

IN CONTENTION: Paul Reilly is in the Oldham 17 for Sunday’s visit of London Skolars.

Benson promises Roughyeds response

OLDHAM coach Tony Benson is pledging an instant response from his team this weekend.

London Skolars visit on Sunday (3pm kick-off) as the Roughyeds bid to wipe clean memories of last week’s disappointing 34-28 home loss to York City Knights, the first match at the club’s new ground.

The defeat was a first for the Roughyeds since a 24-22 home defeat by Championship side Sheffield Eagles in the Northern Rail Cup — a game which took place at Sedgley Park RUFC back on Monday, February 22, almost 12 weeks ago.

And Benson has promised that Skolars will feel the backlash of his side’s defeat by York at the Whitebank seven days ago.

Benson and his backroom team have worked hard all week to lift spirits and to restore self-belief.

A bonus point took Roughyeds to the top of Co-operative Championship One, but the players still took defeat to heart.

“They were really down, but we are over it now,” said Benson. “The boys are switched on and keen to redeem themselves for last week.

“We owe it to the fans, who turned up in numbers and with high expectation that we were going to win again on our big day.

“Skolars are improving week by week. They have brought in good players and they nearly beat Workington last time out.

“But we are very motivated and we are absolutely ready for them. Hopefully, we will reward the fans with a win.”

Mark Brocklehurst and Paul Reilly are added to last week’s 17, and both could figure because several players face late fitness checks.

The versatile Brocklehurst was 18th man last week while assistant coach Reilly was given leave of absence for family reasons.

Players to be checked out include three props, Dave Ellison, Jason Boults and Luke Sutton, as well as hooker Martin Roden and backs Mick Fogerty and Lucas Onyango.

Still out injured are Neil Roden (broken toe), Marcus St Hilaire (back) and Valu Bentley (hamstring).

While Oldham have been riding high in the league table with seven victories out of the first eight league games, it has been a different story for the team from the capital.

London Skolars have lost every game this season, most recently suffering a 44-28 home defeat to Workington Town.

It has been a rough ride for rookie coach James Massara, but he is at least boosted by the return to the club of centre John Paxton, the former Leeds Met player who has signed until the end of the season.

Paul Thorman, brother of Chris and Neil, still pulls the strings for Skolars at scrum-half and experienced Ade Adebisi — who has had spells in the north with Hull FC, Doncaster, Featherstone and Whitehaven since leaving the then-Broncos — is in at full-back.

Benson is a former Skolars coach and in prop forward duo Dave Ellison and Wayne Kerr, Oldham have two former London players in their ranks.

Oldham (from): Ashe, Boults, Brocklehurst, Chandler, Clarke, Ellison, Fogerty, Gillam, Heaton, Hodson, Kerr, Mansfield, O’Connor, Onyango, Reilly, Robinson, M Roden, Sutton, Whitmore.


ROUGHYEDS remind fans that tickets can be bought at the Lansdowne Road office until 5.00pm this evening to ease turnstile congestion. They can also be bought in the clubhouse at Whitebank from 1pm on Sunday. The club opens at noon.



fixtures

Tonight — Engage Super League: Leeds v Warrington (8pm); Wakefield v Bradford (8pm, TV).

Tomorrow — Engage Super League: Catalans v Hull FC (6.30pm); Salford v St Helens (6pm, TV).

Co-operative Championship: Sheffield v Toulouse (3pm).

Co-operative Championship One: Blackpool v Gateshead (3pm).

Sunday (3pm unless stated) — Engage Super League: Harlequins v Castleford (2pm); Huddersfield v Wigan; Hull KR v Crusaders.

Co-operative Championship: Batley v Whitehaven; Halifax v Barrow.

Co-operative Championship One: OLDHAM v LONDON SKOLARS; Workington v Doncaster; York v Hunslet.