Fan-tastic!

WORDS of inspiration: OLDHAM are hoping Kevin Sinfield’s Grand Final-winning experience will rub off on them after he helped them to prepare for Sunday’s clash against York. Sinfield, who has led Leeds to victory in the last three Super League title deciders, took a break from preparing for tomorrow’s semi–final against Wigan to give his home–town club a timely boost.

Benson’s salute to supporters as Oldham prepare for play-off clash

WE COULDN’T have done it without you — that is the message to Roughyeds fans from the club’s coach Tony Benson.

Ahead of the biggest 80 minutes of the season against York City Knights at Warrington on Sunday (3.05pm kick-off), Benson has led a campaign which has blossomed from extremely inauspicious beginnings.

Less than two weeks before the start of pre-season training last November, Oldham had no contracted coach, no players and nowhere to play, with chairman Chris Hamilton only just having assumed a full shareholding in the club.

Now, with a permanent base established at the Whitebank Stadium, Benson’s boys aim to round off a superb, record-breaking season by defeating York at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in order to gain promotion to the Co-operative Champ-ionship.

Benson paid tribute, among others, to the fans who have helped build up the club’s new ground so quickly as well as those who have cheered on the side home and away.

“It isn’t just the players who have got us here,” said Benson, who hopes to go one better than last year’s defeat at this stage to Keighley.

“That is something I mean, and not something you can say every year.

“It all goes back to Chris Hamilton and the sponsors, and also the volunteers who have all put in so much effort which has allowed us to survive.

“The sheer work that has been put in by people at the Whitebank Stadium is incredible.

“The fans have turned up in numbers and have driven on the players this season. The support has been fantastic and the players have often commented on it.

“I genuinely mean it — where we are really isn’t just down to the players themselves.”

A win to ease memories of the post-1997 club’s four previous play-off final defeats would be perfect for Benson and those supporters who have been there to witness them.

Benson believes his team have got it within themselves to see off the Knights for a third time this season, two weeks after their last meeting which was won 41-32 by the Roughyeds.

“There is an air of confidence about us,” Benson added.

“It doesn’t spill over into arrogance, but we know that come Sunday afternoon we will be as well prepared for the game as we possibly could be.

“I have spoken to all the players individually and everyone is excited. We all appreciate what a special opportunity this is.”