'Stick with us'

Photo: Dave Murgatroyd

Richard Lepori (tackle in which he was injured)

SCOTT Naylor is urging the town's rugby league fans to nail their colours to the Roughyeds' mast while he and his squad find a way to end a run of six Championship defeats in a row.

Proving that little goes right for a struggling side, in-form full-back Richard Lepori had to quit at half-time with an ankle injury in the 30-12 defeat by Halifax at Bower Fold.

He was in stunning form for the first 20 minutes before going down injured in a tackle.

Then, having pulled back from a 12-0 interval deficit to level at 12 apiece Naylor's men missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when a George Tyson pass to Scott Leatherbarrow was ruled forward with the Fax try line wide open.

Oldham fell apart after that and Fax went on to finish comfortable winners.

Naylor said: "It's frustrating for everybody and I understand how the fans feel. One or two were making their feelings known during the game, but I'm asking our supporters to stick with us.

"There's a lot of rugby to be played yet this season and we'll get it right."

Next big challenge is the rearranged game against Dewsbury Rams at Bower Fold on Wednesday, which kicks off at 8pm. It was originally postponed in March because of a waterlogged pitch.

The Rams, beaten 64-11 at Hull KR yesterday, are next to bottom, two places and three points behind Roughyeds, who won 28-24 at Dewsbury on April 30 after trailing heavily at half-time.

The Yorkshiremen are thought to have 'rested' several key men at Hull KR in readiness for what they perceive to be a 'must win' game at Bower Fold.

Bottom club Bradford lost 28-14 at Rochdale and third-bottom Swinton Lions didn't play so Oldham remain as they were in ninth place; one point more than Swinton; three more than Dewsbury; and 11 more than Bradford, who began on -12 points as an insolvency penalty.