Players' sights on instant riposte

FLYING HIGH . . . Scott Turner makes a dive for the line to score.

SCOTT Naylor's Oldham RL players are determined to make amends for their inept performance at Batley by responding with a vengeance against Bradford Bulls at Bower Fold on Sunday.

So said the Roughyeds boss after training last night when he confirmed that Scott Turner's knee injury will again keep him out.

Dual-reg players from Huddersfield Giants will be available to him, but he said he still hadn't finalised his line-up.

'DETERMINED'

He added: "I had a lot of disappointed lads at Batley and they're determined to put a few things right.

"We need to put on a big performance for the fans, but also because we haven't got the number of points we hoped to have after six league games.

"We'll be looking for 80 minutes of complete rugby, both defensively and offensively.

"Can we beat Bradford? On our day we can beat anybody in this division. All we are lacking right now is a bit of confidence."

The Bulls began the season on minus-12 points for going into administration, but new owners have spent heavily and have been rewarded.

After losing their first two games, they've won four of the last five to reduce their points deficit to minus-four.

The Bulls players have gone public with their aim to have a "zero party" by Easter. They believe they can finish mid-table.

Added Naylor: "I've watched their last two or three games and they've got some good lads.

"They were playing academy boys at the start of the year, but now they've got a lot of full-time players with Super League backgrounds.

"It shows their ambition. They must have spent a lot of money because players like that don't come cheap."

If selected, hooker Kenny Hughes will be making his 100th appearance for the club and Michael Ward will be out to continue his scoring sequence of one try in each of Oldham's last three games.

OLDHAM (from): Lepori, Clay, Tyson, Egodo, Leatherbarrow, Hewitt, Davies, Owen, Neal, Langtree, Thompson, Bent, Hughes, Ward, Spencer, Chisholm, Gee, Burke, Grimshaw, Gill plus DR regulations.

BRADFORD (probable): Campbell, Macari, Oakes, Smith, Ryan, Keyes, Lilley, Magrin, Moore, Murray, Larroyer, Roche, Wilkinson, Kirk, Caro, Valahiri, Gordon-Roberts.

Fans are reminded are that Summer Bash tickets; discounted early-bird tickets for the Challenge Cup tie at Featherstone; and replica kit will all be on- sale at Bower Fold before Sunday's game.