Team lacked spark - Benson

‘FLAT’ was the word used by Roughyeds coach Tony Benson to describe his side’s performance in defeat to South Wales Scorpions.

Going into the game needing a win to guarantee a minimum of a second-placed finish in Co-operative Championship One, Benson’s men instead fell to an unexpected third defeat at the Whitebank Stadium this season.

As events transpired, second spot – and a home draw in the play-offs – was assured by way of Hornets RL losing 18-12 at Workington.

Benson felt that the exertions of last week’s 24-22 win at Blackpool, plus an apparent mystery illness affecting the players, took its toll.

And he conceded that the chances of knocking Hunslet out of the sole automatic promotion place have now all but evaporated.

“I thought South Wales played extremely well,” Benson said.

“They got through their sets, worked hard, played for each other and made life very difficult for us.

“That is the first thing, before we look at ourselves.

“They put up a serious fight and we talked about it beforehand, knowing it was going to happen.

“They are fighting for a spot in the play-offs.

“For us, I think we were flat after last week. I knew it was going to be a struggle to get the players up, but I thought they were.

“On Thursday they seemed okay and Saturday’s training went alright.

“Physically, we had a few players ill at half-time. One of them, Wayne (Kerr) was complaining about being dizzy and having no energy and Junior (Marcus St Hilaire) was the same. Maybe it was the same thing, I don’t know.

“With a team attacking us down the middle and having players in that condition, you are going to struggle.

“At half-time I said they were killing us in the middle and that we had to stand up, but we didn’t have the troops to do it, to be honest.”

Dave Ellison was another player to suffer during the game, suffering mild concussion from a knock to his head, a sore, swollen shin and the same symptoms as Kerr and St Hilaire.

But despite the problems Oldham faced, Benson was disappointed to have lost the game.

“It is a game we should have won,” he added. “The boys have had a frank discussion in the changing rooms among themselves about what is needed.

“It is our job this week to respond to that and come back with something.

“Catching Hunslet was a long shot anyway and we as a team are now focused on second spot and a home tie in the play-offs.”