Benson ‘bursting with pride’

WIN OR BUST: Chris Baines and Swinton’s Martin Moana.

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson has paid tribute to star man Chris Baines in the build up to the do-or-die home game against Swinton.

Baines was named in the Co-operative Championship One All-Star team of the year, suitable recognition for a man whose personal fortunes have been thoroughly transformed in 2009.

From being a bit-part player off the bench who some were even surprised got a contract for this season, the ever-determined Baines has become a mainstay in an ever-shifting line-up, missing only one match all year and consistently impressing with his strong running and tough tackling.

When a host of players upped and left to join Barrow, Baines took on the mantle of goal kicker.

In his first game in the new role at Blackpool he missed half his six kicks, but he then landed four out of five at home to York and boasted a 100-per-cent, three-from-three against Hunslet — including one conversion from way out on the left touchline.

“I don’t think that any player in that representative side deserves it more than he does,” Benson said of Baines.

“He has had an excellent season and his way of approaching things has been so impressive.

“When the group of players went to Barrow, we also lost three kickers — Andy Ballard, James Coyle and Danny Halliwell — and despite not having kicked for many years, Chris chose to take the responsibility on board.

“That is the sort of player and person he is. If I give him something to work on, he will always improve on it.

“I am absolutely bursting with pride for him.”

Baines is set to again take to the field for Sunday’s Co-operative Championship One elimination play-off at Boundary Park, as the Roughyeds bid to kick-start their promotion quest after two consecutive defeats.

Having already beaten Swinton 52-36 at home and 44-26 at Sedgley Park, the omens are good for passage through to the next stage of the play-offs, at home to the winners of the Blackpool-Hunslet tie.

Particularly since Swinton are in the midst of a dismal run of form that has seen them pick up only one win from the last seven matches. Even that came against bottom-of-the-table London Skolars.

Benson’s hope is that his side can heed the lessons learned from the loss at Hunslet and come out fighting against a Lions side which, despite poor form, contains plenty of talent.

“Obviously, everyone was disappointed with what happened last week,” Benson said.

“We have addressed those areas that we need to improve on, such as cohesion and better decision-making, so we hope that will show this weekend.

“Making good decisions as a group takes time to get right.

“Hopefully, there won’t be any more changes to the team this week. But with the size of squad we have got now, we will train all the different possible combinations so that it is all covered if someone drops out.”