Thursday 20 July 2017

Sunday's Coming: Oldham

The headline in the Oldham Chronicle tells you everything you need to know about Oldham, petulantly screaming “Oldham focus on revenge mission”.

In an article dripping with chippy negativity, the Chronic goes on to bemoan: Oldham not finishing higher than last season’s third bottom, ‘avenging’ their defeat at Blackpool and failing to beat Hornets in three attempts this year thus far. Then it goes on to contemplate relegation - cheerful stuff.

Indeed, this has been a season book-ended by unfortunate issues emanating from the wrong end of the A627M. The Law Cup remembered for George Tyson’s rush of blood to the fists as he threw punches during the post-match handshakes, all the way through to their serious accusations against Lewis Galbraith that couldn’t be substantiated.

As it is, it’s looking likely that Oldham will end the regular season below Hornets - they are only two points adrift, but would need an 82 point swing to scramble above us.

Like most clubs in our positions, the queue for the Oldham treatment room gives round the block at this time of the season, The Chronicle reporting fresh injuries to George Tyson (knee), Matty Wilkinson (calf) and Scott Leatherbarrow (calf)last Sunday; Danny Langtree (bicep), Liam Thompson (sternum) and Kameron Pearce-Paul (sternum) carrying longer-term knocks; and Scott Turner, Phil Joy and Richard Lepori out for the season. What was Turner’s third concussion could potentially end his career; Lepori requires an operation on his damaged ankle. There will also be unspecified ‘updates’ on Gareth Owen, Jack Spencer, Adam Neal and Craig Briscoe.

Scott Naylor has this week added Wakefield Trinity full-back Luke Hooley to his depleted squad for the remainder of the season.  Whilst only 19 years old, Hooley has already been signed at Bradford Bulls, released to Wakefield Trinity and punted out on loan to Dewsbury (for whom he played in their win over Oldham - awks!). But he’s unlikely to make the side on Sunday due to an existing knee problem.

Loan deals with London Broncos’ Sadiq Adebiyi and Kameron Pearce-Paul plus Salford’s Liam Bent and Connor Williams have also been rubber-stamped for the rest of the season.

Last week, Oldham led Sheffield 12-10,after half an hour, but then went on to ship 28 unanswered points (five tries) in the 10 minutes either side of half-time, eventually crashing by 42-28 in front of just 329 people (how do Sheffield survive on crowds like that?).

Naylor’s analysis? “Our fringes struggled massively and we made Menzie Yere and Garry Lo look like world-beaters… (We’ll) need to be better defensively against Rochdale.”

However it pans out on Sunday - barring a freak result - Naylor will lead his side into an 8s where his side will face four away games. But for Hornets the door remains open to snatch the all important 8th place and the prospect not only of four home games, but - if Toulouse follow form and choke v Fev on Saturday - of dodging yet another trip to the South of France.

Regardless of their result, Toulouse will miss the cut if in-form Halifax beat a late-twitchy Hull KR.

The permutations for Hornets are pretty straightforward: a win of any shade whatsoever and Dewsbury to lose or draw at home to Sheffield and we take 8th (Dewsbury have a point more, but a points difference of 125 worse than Hornets).

So that’s it. Nothibgf less than a win will do. Given the way previous games v Oldham have e gone this season, this one promises to be another spicy, heart-stopping no-holds barred battle. And while Oldham have nothing to lose and nothing to gain except this week’s bragging rights, the 80 minutes at Bower Fold on Sunday will shape the remainder of our season.

You wouldn’t usually need motivating to get along to an A627M El Clasico - but this one promises to be special. Come on you Hornets - let’s ‘ave it.