Roughyeds chief salutes team effort

BEAMING Oldham coach Tony Benson refused to single out individual performances after his team had produced another brilliant effort to obliterate York and reach the Co-operative Championship One play-off final.

A four-try burst in the first 16 minutes provided the platform for a victory in which scrum-half Thomas Coyle stole the show, having a significant hand in five of the injury-hit team’s eight tries.

Benson, though, pressed the point that the forwards provided a great platform for a famous victory which also featured some very determined defence.

“Our start was perfect,” said Benson. “We had a 100-per-cent set completion rate and came up with tries at the end of most of the sets.

“Thomas (Coyle) had a great game but as was the case last week and the week before, he can’t do what he does without the people in front of him.

“We went forward really well right across the park. We had certain areas identified to pick at and everyone in those spots did a great job.”

At 24-4 up at the halfway point, Benson felt the next score was crucial.

Thankfully, Paul Reilly grabbed it and a solid half followed to leave only Keighley barring the exit gate from the division.

“Coming out after half-time, I was very worried,” Benson added. “I always am and it is probably a good thing, but I would rather a game was close in some ways.

“Paul Reilly’s try at the start of the second half was crucial and we knew that.

“The defence was the big high I get from today and it was something we worked so hard on during the week. To defend as we did against a very capable York team was great.

“Our attack has been good enough for probably around a month.

“We were concerned with defence not in the technical sense, but the mentality of defence. That was something we have worked on and it was really good.”