Benson nuts about Boults
Reporter: by MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 30 July 2010
UNSUNG hero Jason Boults will get his moment in the spotlight this Sunday.
The 26-year-old former Bradford and Halifax prop forward is set for his 100th appearance in a Roughyeds shirt when South Wales Scorpions visit the Whitebank Stadium (3pm kick-off).
And to mark the occasion, the unassuming Boults will lead the team out as Oldham bid to pick up the points that will guarantee, at the very least, a second-placed finish in Co-operative Championship One and the home qualifying semi-final in the play-offs that goes with it.
“It is a fantastic milestone for him,” said Benson of Boults. “He is one of those players who gets through a phenomenal amount of high-quality work.
“As a coach and also as a team-mate, you know you can rely on him.
“This year, he has added a very good passing game and as usual his defence is spot-on.
“Some people may not notice what he does, until he is out of the side when you see the difference he makes.
“Boultsy isn’t one who goes looking for accolades, he just knuckles down to his job and players and coaches appreciate that.”
Boults first signed for Oldham from Halifax ahead of the 2007 season, after his agent Jamie Bloem told then-Roughyeds assistant coach Alan Hadcroft — a former team-mate of the prop at The Shay — of his availability.
He came through the academy ranks at Bradford Bulls before spending two seasons with Fax and has since been a model of understated consistency on the other side of the Pennines under coaches Steve Deakin and Benson.
He will become the second player this season to graduate to the Roughyeds’ centenary club, following a similar achievement by Paul O’Connor in the game at Gateshead on July 4.
South Wales come into the game needing to win to guarantee staying in seventh spot, the lowest finish that gains a play-off place.
The Neath-based side, coached by Anthony Seibold and in their inaugural season, welcome back Loz Wildbore and Liam Roach, son of ex-Australia international Steve, from suspension.
Christiaan Roets is also set to feature and Benson is wary of the Scorpions’ capabilities.
“They are fighting for a place in the play-offs and are very capable of getting one,” the Roughyeds coach said.
“I watched them against Rochdale (South Wales lost 46-14 at Spotland) and they played very well, only for Rochdale to play even better.”
Fitness checks will be made on Chris Clarke (knee), who missed last week’s 24-22 win at Blackpool, Neil Roden (back), Ben Heaton (knee), Wayne Kerr (arm) and Luke Sutton (knee), while Craig Robinson should be in contention after recovering from a back injury as the home side chase a seventh win in a row.
