WHILE needing no reminding that Haydock won’t be the toughest opponents Oldham are likely to meet on their twin Cup adventure this year —Coral Challenge Cup and the new 1895 Cup — Roughyeds were happy with their 14-try performance in this third-round Challenge Cup tie.
Assistant coach Peter Carey described his side’s offering in freakishly windy conditions as “comprehensive and clinical” and he was particularly pleased that moves and techniques worked on in training were put into practice and used successfully.
“It’s always good when you see that,”
said Scott Naylor’s No 2, who was also moved to comment on the success of a new half-back combination in Anthony Bowman and Adam Brook.
“It worked well and it gives us another option at the heart of the attack, “
he said.
Bowman suffered a second-half back injury but Carey said the early prognosis was that it was not too serious and that, with luck, he could be ready to return soon.
Roughyeds have no game next Sunday and their next test will be London Skolars at the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday, March 24 when the occasion will double-up as a big community day, featuring the launch of an under-16s club, Roary’s Pride, and an invitation to the game to local schools who are involved in ‘Oldham Pledge’.
Added Carey:
“We’ve a little bit of time now to get ready for Skolars and we’ll benefit from that.
“When Bowman was hurt we used Jamie Greenwood in the halves and he did okay too.
“We were disappointed with the two tries we let in. We just seemed to switch off a couple of times and we paid the penalty, but overall we scored some great tries and did what we had to do so that has to be very pleasing.”
Oldham have never had as many Yorkshire lads in the squad as they do now — 12 — and chairman Chris Hamilton referred to “these two Yorkies” when presenting individual awards to half-back Adam Brook, a Halifax lad, and Kyran Johnson, who was born in Castleford and lives in Featherstone.
“I should have got the translator in,
” he joked.
He said Brook’s goalkicking in the fierce wind — 12 goals from 14 attempts — was exceptional from the lad who’s on a season-long loan from Halifax.
Of Johnson, he added:
“He’s won the champagne-moment award because of his all-round performance. He’s had to be patient to get his chance, but he’s enjoying his time here and long may that continue.”
Johnson said:
“The conditions made it tough but we were professional in what we did and I think anyone in our team could have won the man-of-the-match award.”
