Roughyeds illustrate play-off credentials

PAUL O’Connor runs at the York defence

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OLDHAM came through a tough examination of their promotion potential yesterday and in doing so gained a big confidence boost for the forthcoming play-offs.

The Roughyeds won 33-18 at York City Knights to avenge defeat at Whitebank in May and keep alive faint hopes — mathematical at least — of usurping Hunslet at the top of Co-operative Championship One.

The more likely scenario is that they will finish second in the table and, while York dropped down to fourth after this game, there remains a good possibility that these two sides will meet again in a few weeks' time in the qualifying semi-final back at Whitebank, and maybe even again in the play-off final.

Victory therefore provided a welcome fillip for Tony Benson's men after last week's surprising loss to South Wales Scorpions.

They also have half-back Greg McNally to come back into the line-up as he was rested yesterday, probably with one eye on those play-offs — although Benson will have a dilemma as to who to omit.

McNally's replacement, the fit-again schemer Neil Roden, had a belter, while half-back partner Matty Ashe added his own threat and maintained a 100-per-cent record with the boot with five conversions and a last-minute penalty.

The game began well for the Roughyeds as excellent hands down the left saw winger John Gillam score.

York hit back as a kick by loose-forward Danny Allan sat up perfectly for left-winger Wayne Reittie to touch down in the corner, Danny Ratcliffe goaling from out wide.

Reittie had another try ruled out for a knock-on by Ryan Esders, who should have scored, before Oldham retook the lead. Esders made amends for his miss by preventing substitute prop Ian Hodson touching down but, in the same set, Roden went himself and three tacklers could not prevent him touching down.

Again York hit back as substitute prop Jack Stearman steamed in, Ratcliffe converting, but again Oldham retook the lead, full-back Paul O'Connor finishing another excellent move.

That lead was cut to 18-14 on the half-time hooter by a penalty by Ratcliffe, and the hosts tried to get the upper hand after the break.

Oldham began it on top, aided by York fumbles in their own half, but they wasted chances through poor handling of their own. However, while their attack struggled to get out of second gear, their defence was excellent.

Brave tackles held Esders and Jack Lee short as York tried to get on top, while the defence also caused a knock-on under a high ball, following a chip to the corner by former England captain Chris Thorman, which meant Luke Hardbottle's try was disallowed.

And Oldham reaped the rewards of that work as they increased their lead on the hour-mark, keeping the ball alive superbly well for winger Lucas Onyango to add the finishing touch.

Then, as York attempted to hit back again, fellow paceman Gillam picked off a pass by York full-back Ratcliffe and sprinted 85 metres home.

Roden added a drop-goal to increase the lead to 31-14 and, although a wonderful Thorman pass evaded Onyango and saw Reittie get his second try with five minutes to go, Ratcliffe missed the conversion that would have brought the Knights to within 12 points and therefore on the verge of a bonus point.

And Oldham's victory was sealed at the death as Ashe booted a penalty.



Benson happy as business end of season approaches

OLDHAM boss Tony Benson reckoned victory at promotion rivals York yesterday showed his side were building momentum for the forthcoming play-offs in Championship One.

The Roughyeds, beaten at home by York in their first match at Whitebank back in May, had lost to South Wales Scorpions last week following their notable win over Blackpool seven days earlier.

And Benson reckoned yesterday's 33-18 result showed that loss was only a blip.

"It was tough as expected. I thought it would be pretty close, like it was at half-time (at 18-14)," he said.

"We had a bit of a low last week after a very big high so (yesterday) was really a real question for us as to whether we'd lost form or whether it was a drop in motivation for one week."

The result was achieved even without ace half-back Greg McNally, who was rested, with veteran schemer Neil Roden returning from injury to play a crucial role.

Benson added: "There's lots of room for improvement still but we have a few players to come in and we're happy with the progress made from last week."

Yesterday's match was potentially a dress rehearsal for a play-off tie, but Benson did not think the result was a pointer to how it could go in the semi-finals.

He said: "It (the match) was not all that important for York — they're in the semi-finals — and it was not that important for us, as we're going to play at home against somebody (in the qualifying semi-final).

"But it was important that we start to build our form towards the semi-finals now we're there and we did that."