Naylor warns of Kells threat

SCOTT NAYLOR

COACH SCOTT Naylor has promised that Oldham will show amateurs Kells every respect in the fourth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

Roughyeds will be at home to the Cumbrian amateurs on March 20 in a tie Naylor has described as “a potential banana skin”.

One of five top amateur clubs who rattled Kingstone Press League One teams in round three, Kells will be planning to go one better to claim the scalp of Naylor’s Championship new boys.

“They’ll have a real go at us,” said the Roughyeds boss. “The challenge for us is to make sure we have exactly the same mindset about the game as against Bradford Bulls in the Championship this week.

“If we don’t have the right attitude and mental approach there’s a potential for Kells to cause another upset. Five of their top clubs, including Kells, have another opportunity to fly the flag for amateur rugby and it will mean a great deal to them.

“We have to do our homework, show them a lot of respect and make sure we go into the tie fully prepared and switched on.”

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton said: “All you can ask for is a home tie, but we’ve got to be on our guard. For the first time in a long time we are going into the Challenge Cup as a Championship club and we have to make that count.”

Draw: Batley Bulldogs v Whitehaven; Hunslet Hawks v Doncaster; Sheffield Eagles v Swinton Lions; Featherstone Lions v Lock Lane; OLDHAM v Kells; Rochdale v Siddal; Pilkington Recs v Halifax; Dewsbury Rams v Bradford Bulls; Leigh Centurions v Workington Town; York City Knights v Keighley Cougars; London Broncos v Featherstone Roves; Toulouse v Gloucester.