Naylor: all to play for

IN the words of coach Scott Naylor, Oldham RL Club’s table-topping players will this week start the “final countdown” in the Roughyeds’ push for promotion.

After a well-deserved week off to freshen up, Naylor’s young squad will report back for training tomorrow night to prepare for four crucial Championship One games in 19 days.

The last four games of the regular season start with Sunday’s visit to Whitebank (3pm) of title favourites North Wales Crusaders, currently two points behind Oldham but with two games in hand.

Roughyeds go to London Skolars on August 4, entertain Gloucester All Golds at Whitebank on August 11 and finish on the following Thursday, August 15 with a derby clash at Rochdale (7pm, televised live by Premier Sports).

The final fixtures will have a huge bearing on promotion prospects - none more so than Sunday’s top-of-the-table battle.

If Roughyeds are to retain a realistic chance of finishing top and going up automatically, they need to pick up the 12 points still available.

If not they still need a decent share of those points to be sure of finishing second and a chance of promotion through the play-offs.

Having seen his young side win nine of its last 11 league games, picking up 29 points from a possible 33, Oldham team boss Scott Naylor is quietly confident targets can be reached.