Coach’s thoughts turn to play-offs

FLAT OUT FOR SUCCESS . . . Danny Langtree scores Oldham’s fourth try against Rochdale in last night’s clash at Spotland.

SCOTT Naylor is preparing his Oldham RL squad to win promotion the hard way - through the play-offs.

Roughyeds will go up automatically if North Wales Crusaders lose one of their remaining three games without gaining a bonus point.

Coach Naylor, who watched his Oldham side beat Rochdale Hornets 30-25 at Spotland last night, doesn’t believe it will happen.

He said: “I don’t see them losing another game. In any case we can't be sitting around waiting for Crusaders to slip up. It’s four weeks before our first play-off tie, and we might not be mathematically certain of our fate until September 1 when Crusaders are at home to South Wales.

“We can’t waste all that time. We’ve got to assume we will be in the play-offs and act accordingly.

“We might be playing a friendly to keep our intensity levels where they should be, but anyone carrying a bump or knock will not be included. We won’t be taking chances.

“If we finish second with a young squad, the players will deserve a lot of credit.”

Looking ahead to possible play-offs, he added: “We could have only one game between now and the play-off final at the end of September.

“I might be presuming a lot to think we’ll win one game and then go straight into the final, but it’s a scenario that could happen and it’s something we need to be thinking about.”