Sixth sense for Oldham

A RESOUNDING derby victory at Rochdale has set Oldham Roughyeds up for an assault on sixth place in Co-operative Championship One.

Currently seventh, occupying the last of the play-off spots, a lack of bonus points picked up by Tony Benson's men in defeat has cost the club badly in terms of overall league position with two games remaining.

Finish ahead of Whitehaven, though — the Cumbrians are two points clear at present, with a home fixture against newly-crowned champions Swinton to come this weekend — and Oldham could end up taking on Rochdale in another Spotland derby in the first round of play-off ties.

At present, all this is mere. speculation. One certainty is that a win over South Wales Scorpions on Sunday (3pm kick-off) is a must for Oldham's ambitions.

Oldham have faced the Neath-based side twice so far this season.

First time around, the Roughyeds were kicked into touch 40-20 in a game played at Caerphilly in May, four weeks before the return leg at the Whitebank Stadium in which the home team triumphed 35-18.

Inspirational on that day was half-back Jamie Dallimore, who scored two tries on his league debut.

The product of Wigan St Cuthbert's and then John Hough's reserves squad was this week rewarded with his first pro contract, running to 2012.

Neil Roden and Carl Forber will be tough men to shift in the halves, though, considering the way the pair helped secure such victory by a surprising margin last week.

Full-back Ben Heaton, scorer of two tries in the 38-16 win over the Hornets, will hope to continue his excellent form at full-back against a Scorpions side who pushed Swinton hard for their title-clinching 40-28 win at The Willows.

After this game, Oldham have a week off thanks to the Carnegie Challenge Cup final, playing out the final game of the regular campaign at Workington on Sunday, September 4 (3pm).