Spencer sets the example

Lee Spencer, Roughyeds’ assistant coach.

INSPIRED by assistant coach Lee Spencer’s devotion to duty, Oldham RL players rolled up their sleeves at Barrow, got stuck in and battled to a 22-0 win.

They dedicated the win to Spencer, who was at training as usual last Thursday only three hours after his head was badly cut by a falling ladder at work. He had X-rays, 14 stitches in a deep gash and a brain scan, but dashed from hospital to training alongside head coach Scott Naylor and fellow assistant Peter Carey.

All three were at Barrow, but it was no easy ride for stitched-up Spencer, to whom Naylor delegated the job of talking to the media after the game.

“We like to set an example,” said Spencer. “Once I was out of hospital I was always going to training. Why wouldn’t I? We’ve a big season coming up.”

The players did him proud at Craven Park but, like his boss Naylor, he was quick to identify room for improvement.

“It was a big improvement on how we played at Keighley, but we need to improve again for the Law Cup game and then go up another notch for London Broncos in our opening Championship game.

“We were delighted to win without conceding and we were pleased by how we performed in the first 20 minutes. It was Championship rugby.

“In the run-up to half-time we reverted to League One rugby, but we talked about it at half-time and put it right in the second half.

“We’ve lots to work on, but the overview is that we were generally well pleased with our performance.”