Benson wary of Skolars threat

COACH Tony Benson will stress to his Oldham RL players that Saturday’s fixture against London Skolars at The Stoop will be harder and more demanding than the game against Whitehaven at Whitebank.

Though next to bottom of Co-operative Championship One, Skolars have won each of their last three matches at their New River Stadium home in North London,

beating Rochdale Hornets 44-22, Keighley Cougars 18-16 and South Wales Scorpions 27-26.

In between, they gave Whitehaven a massive fright at the Recreation Ground, pushing the Cumbrians all the way on their own patch before being edged out 14-12.

Skolars have conceded home advantage for the Oldham game, which will be played across the city in west London at The Stoop (5pm kick off), shared home of Harlequins RL and Harlequins RU.

Quins RL star Rob Purdham will celebrate his testimonial at The Stoop on Saturday.

This to be built around a double-header with Quins staging a Super League game against Wigan Warriors to kick-off at 3pm, followed by the Skolars-Oldham clash two hours later.

“We’ve got to be ready for a challenge that will be tougher than the one posed by Whitehaven,” said Benson (pictured, left), a former Skolars boss.

“They have caused big problems for every team they have played in recent weeks and they will certainly want to make a big impression on a big day at The Stoop.

“For whatever reason, they always lift their game against us, and we’ve got to be ready for everything they throw at us.”

Benson is unable to call on young prop Liam Gilchrist to replace the injured Dave Ellison (dislocated elbow) because he is currently on tour with Great Britain Students in Australia.

Recent recruit Bruce Johnson, another prop, is out with a damaged hand sustained in a reserve-team game while another front-rower, Chris Clarke, is also on the long-term injury list.

The full extent of centre Matthew Fogarty’s elbow injury will be known later today and that will also have a major bearing on how Benson’s squad for London will take shape over the week’s two training sessions.