SEAN Long’s Oldham go to Midlands Hurricanes on SATURDAY (2pm), having temporarily ’lost’ top spot in Betfred League ONE to the only other 100 per cent team, Keighley Cougars.
Their 82-6 win at Newcastle Thunder last week, while Roughyeds had a day off, sent them to the top of the table, although Oldham have a game in hand, having played four, won four against Cougars’ five wins from five.
Though not in the least surprising it is becoming increasingly looking like US and THEM in a two-horse race for the title and thus finishing top of the pile to win automatic promotion.
Although it is early days yet, points difference could be a decisive issue and Keighley currently have a slight advantage of 22 points, while we both face tough away games this weekend.
Keighley go to Rochdale, never easy, while we travel to Birmingham on Saturday (note the 2pm start) to take on a Hurricanes side that put 72 points on Cornwall in Cornwall, thus inflicting the home team’s record defeat and confirming what we already knew – namely. that we will need to be at our best to come home with the two points.
Every team in the division will be out to take our scalp (same with Keighley) and Midlands will be no exception. Can Rochdale do us a favour ? They can . . . just like Hurricanes can do Keighley a favour if we drop below the high standards we have seen in Sean’s men thus far.
Either way, it promises to be an important weekend for Oldham and Keighley who, as luck would have it, play each other three times this season, twice at Cougar Park in the loop system.
These three games are going to be vital in the battle to finish top and the one at Boundary Park in July should get the stadium rocking, as will the two at Cougar Park in May and August.
First things first, though, and one wonders whether there will still be two unbeaten teams at the top of Betfred League One come tea time Sunday.
Last Sunday’s results: Cornwall 6, Midlands Hurricanes 72; Hunslet 18, Workington Town 30; Newcastle Thunder 6, Keighley Cougars 82; North Wales Crusaders 36, Rochdale Hornets 37.
