No excuses, no fire, no desire

Photo: Alex Broadway

FAMILIAR POSE . . . Oldham's players react after another Broncos try

AN 'embarrassed' Scott Naylor and his injury-depleted squad, whacked 74-12 at London Broncos, have 14 days in which to recover composure and self-belief before they go head to head with Batley Bulldogs.

With no game next Sunday, the players have been given this week off - a decision that was made before yesterday's desperately poor performance in London.

Their next game is a home clash with Batley on Sunday, May 21, but Bower Fold is unavailable that day due to essential work on the pitch.

Roughyeds hope to announce an alternative venue soon, but they can't do so until they get Rugby Football League approval, hopefully later today.

They have announced, however, that their postponed home game against Dewsbury Rams, called off on Sunday, March 5 because of a waterlogged pitch, has been rearranged for Wednesday, June 21 at Bower Fold, kick-off 8pm.

Roughyeds were down to their last 17 players for the trip to London, including on-loan Tuoyo Egodo and dual-reg Nathan Mason.

Ruled out through injury, as well as long-term victims Craig Briscoe and Phil Joy, were Scott Turner (concussion), Adam Clay (calf) and Jack Spencer (dead leg).

RECALLED

On-loan Kieran Gill and Liam Bent were recalled by Castleford Tigers and Salford Red Devils respectively and Mason was the only dual-reg player available from partner club Huddersfield Giants.

Naylor and his coaching staff, however, were in no mood to use that as an excuse for their side's awful, lack-lustre performance in which they conceded 14 tries.

Head coach Naylor spoke of his 'embarrassment' while his assistant Lee Spencer said: "You can't gloss-over a performance like that. No excuses. We'd no fire, no desire. It was awful."