Naylor targets finishing touch

Coach Scott Naylor

COACH Scott Naylor says his Oldham side must be more clinical in try-scoring situations if they are climb out of the Kingstone Press Championship relegation zone.

And Naylor also wants his charges to play with no fear at the notoriously tricky Fox's Biscuits Stadium, the home of Sunday's opponents Batley Bulldogs.

Starting with this weekend's clash in West Yorkshire, second-bottom Roughyeds have five games to save their season.

He said: "With the slope of the pitch, Batley isn't an easy place to go to, but we can't think about that, it has got to be how we perform.

"And it is the performance that's important. We need to put in an effort that we can take forward into the next game and the game after that.

"We were close against Bradford, but close is not good enough at this stage of the season.

"We need to find that finishing touch to get points on the table by carrying on where we left off last weekend.

"But rather than play for 50 minutes, we must be on it for the full 80."

Oldham were punished for a sluggish first half-hour against Bradford as they slipped 20 points adrift, before recovering in the second period for a final score of 20-16.

In previous meetings between Oldham and Batley this term, the Bulldogs ran out emphatic 50-10 winners at home at the end of March, but the Roughyeds threw away the lead on two occasions in a 48-28 loss at SportsCity in May.

Naylor added: It was a difficult game at their place first time, but we took the lead twice at home, so we know we are capable of causing them problems."

Oldham's Danny Grimshaw will miss Sunday's clash because of a groin strain, but Kenny Hughes (dead leg) and Liam Thompson (sternum problem) have been given the all-clear. George Tyson is also back after completing a two-game ban.

Naylor said: "If we risk Danny, it could mean we lose him for the last four games. We don't want to do that."