Oldham will peak when it matters

DON'T panic . . . that’s the message from Roughyeds coach Tony Benson following his side's surprise defeat against South Wales.

Well beaten on home soil by a Scorpions outfit boasting a smattering of dual registration Super League players — including hat-trick hero Lloyd White — the 42-24 reverse left Oldham focusing on second spot in Co-operative Championship One.

With it comes a home play-off semi-final against one of five contenders for third place.

South Wales, Workington, Blackpool and Hornets RL are all in the running, but currently in possession are York City Knights.

And Benson's men will take a sharp look at the Knights at their Huntington Stadium on Sunday (3pm), confident that the slip against Scorpions was a one-off.

"The thing is with this team, all year, we have been playing above ourselves," said Benson, reflecting on the widespread assumption — among fans, at least — that a place lower down in the play-offs was a realistic goal for a team assembled on a modest budget.

"It is very difficult both physically and mentally to keep that up week after week.

"We have had a couple of slip-ups before, against Hunslet at home and then against York at our place, when a couple of players just weren't quite there.

"We found an extra-high level away at Blackpool two weeks ago and just couldn't keep up there. But there is certainly no panic among us.

"What we need to do now is build things up so that we are ready for what we are focusing on, the home play-off, on Sunday, September 12."

Neil Roden is expected to recover from his back problem to take to the field on Sunday and the Roughyeds have no other significant injury problems, other than Craig Robinson (upper back) who will be checked tomorrow morning.

York, now coached by Dave Woods, come into the game on the back of a 48-42 win at Swinton last week.

Back row forward Ryan Esders, re-signed by York from Harlequins, scored a hat-trick of tries at Sedgley Park RUFC, but the club missed out on Stanley Gene, who needs a knee operation.

Three tries by Wayne McHugh guided Hunslet to a 24–14 win over Workington last night as they extended their lead at the top of the Co–operative Championship One to six points.