Town visitors Oldham hit by fixtures pile-up
Last updated 12:44, Friday, 04 July 2008
Workington Town’s latest opponents Oldham travel to Derwent Park on Sunday in the midst of a lung-busting schedule unmatched in professional rugby league.
Third-placed Oldham beat Gateshead, in second, 40-16 last weekend to remain in contention at the top of NL2.
It was their seventh game in 28 days, and boss Steve Deakin admitted the heavy programme had to be carefully managed.
“We are the only team in all three competitions, from starting on January 13, when we had our first pre-season fixture, not to have had a weekend off,” Deakin said.
“We’ve coped with it the only way we can, and that’s to put up with it. There’s nothing else we can do.
“We have to be careful how we handle it because of the compound effects of continuous football.
“It does have a payback and challenges your playing resources like nothing else.”
He added: “It’s very nice and flattering to know we can compete with the best teams outside Super League.
“We’ve beaten Salford, Whitehaven and Dewsbury this season, and got through to the Challenge Cup quarter-final, which was great for us.”
Ex-Bradford Bull Marcus St Hilaire (hamstring) failed a fitness test ahead of the Gateshead game.
But even with the centre returning to fitness, the coach revealed he was unlikely to change the team that beat Thunder to keep the Roughyeds in contention for top-spot.
“I don’t think anyone is fully aware what automatic promotion is,” Deakin said.
“No one will know until the RFL make the decision. Maybe two teams will go up automatically and a third through a Grand Final.
“We’ll just fight as hard as we can, and if we win every game, it might just be enough to get us top spot. Maybe not.”
Oldham trail leaders Barrow by six points. Town boss Dave Rotheram is hoping that Ryan Campbell and Mark Routledge will be back but prop Ryan Benjafield is ruled out with a calf injury.
