We have a lot to prove — Naylor

SCOTT NAYLOR

AFTER four Championship defeats in a row Scott Naylor welcomes the chance for Oldham to bounce back against Batley Bulldogs at Bower Fold on Sunday (3pm).

Describing it as the “perfect game for us at this time”, the Roughyeds’ boss added: “After what happened over Easter we have a lot to prove.”

Naylor’s men were beaten 42-28 at home by Halifax and 28-18 away to Swinton. Astonishingly, they didn’t score a single first-half point in either game, but rattled up 46 second-half points to their opponents’ 16 with nothing to show for it.

Five players who started the season are currently unavailable, mainly due to injury. In the Easter games Naylor had the use of two teenage forwards from Huddersfield Giants - Liam Johnson and Tyler Dickinson - and dual-reg will again be available to him this weekend.

Adam Clay will be ready to play as Naylor looks for a side from the 17 who played against Swinton, less Jack Holmes, plus Jamel Chisholm, Steve Roper, Joe Burke, Clay and any players Naylor might bring in from Giants.

Unbeaten in seven games, Bulldogs have the leading goalkicker and points scorer in the competition. Half-back Pat Walker has 33 goals and 66 points to lead from the front. Another principal scorer is winger Alex Brown, who has run in a try in each of his side’s last five games.