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Coach on an up-and-down day

Steve Deakin
25/ 8/2008

OLDHAM coach Steve Deakin was left to reflect on the positives and negatives surrounding the Roughyeds' 40-16 win over Workington Town.

Having trailed 16-0, Oldham recorded a 19th straight home victory as Danny Halliwell scored four tries and six goals to end with 28 points. However, unless Doncaster defeat second-placed Barrow by 89 points on Wednesday, Oldham's promotion hopes rest with the play-offs.

They are scheduled to come into the play-offs on September 14, knowing that victory would take them straight into the Grand Final, although Deakin admitted they would need a better display than that on offer against Workington.

He said: "We lacked enthusiasm, discipline and concentration for spells in the first half. I think we completed seven of 17 sets in the first half, three of which were in the first four, so you don't need to be a genius to work out you're going to be under the pump.

"That said, we have to get ready to play football. We weren't ready at 3pm, I think we started getting ready at 3.30pm.

"Perhaps people perceived there wasn't much to play for but it's a score we would have accepted at 2.55pm.

"To come back from 16-0 down shows some character and commitment, but I also thought we showed some good skills.

"Danny Halliwell took his tries well and I thought Phil Joseph gave us some impetus. He carried the ball well rather than trying to play as a stand-off - that said, he came up with a great play for Danny Halliwell's fourth try."