Roughyeds in upbeat mood

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson is keeping his team under wraps for Sunday’s semi-final play-off game at home to York City Knights.

The Kiwi has told the players who is in the starting line-up for the Whitebank Stadium showdown— but he isn’t required by RFL rules to reveal it until one hour before the 3pm kick-off, and that’s what he intends to do.

Benson said: “The players have a spring in their stride. They are really looking forward to this play-off series.

“Our goal is to take the short cut straight to the final, and we feel confident we are moving in the right direction.

“We will be aiming to be at our best, but we will be keeping pretty cool and we are not going to get stressed. We believe we are a better team now than the one that won 33-18 at York in early August.”

Meanwhile, Roughyeds Chris Hamilton has expressed his “utter amazement” at the omission of Benson from the nominees for Co-operative Championship One coach of the year.

Benson piloted unfashionable Roughyeds to runners-up spot and saw his side win each of their 10 league games away from home.

By finishing second, Roughyeds are only 80 minutes away from reaching the Grand Final.

“I’m staggered Tony isn’t even a nominee,” said Hamilton. “I don’t know what the criteria is, but it’s a travesty that he has been overlooked.

“He’s a lot more than just a coach. He has bought into the ethos of the club and he is a very rounded person who is always there to offer help and guidance.”

The game is NOT all-ticket and Roughyeds say there will be plenty of room for fans to pay on the day.

Fans who can get to the club’s office in Lansdowne Road, Chadderton before 5.00pm tonight, however, are advised get their tickets in advance to ease turnstile congestion. They open at 2.00pm. Fans with tickets can use either the ticket-only turnstile or the one for paying adults.

Only a small number of seats will be available in the stand for purchase on the day but, unlike most games, the 32 seats near the players’ tunnel will be offered for general use on payment of a £2 transfer.

If Roughyeds win, tickets for the Grand Final triple-header at Warrington on September 26 will go on sale at Lansdowne Road, Chadderton, from 10am on Monday.