Plenty Toulouse for Roughyeds!
IT’S another tough challenge for Oldham as they travel to Betfred Championship favourites Toulouse Olympique this weekend and new coach Matt Diskin is looking to move on from the ‘bad day at the office’ against Widnes last time out.
The season opener at Bower Fold ended in a 36-6 defeat for Roughyeds, but Diskin believes there are some positives to take from the performance.
“By kicking very early in the tackle count and putting the ball dead several times we gifted field position, gave them seven-play sets and allowed them to roll up the field,” said the former Batley Bulldogs boss.
“It’s a tough division and you have to be on the button in terms of making possession and field position count and taking your chances when they come along.
“There were definite positives. When we went set for set with them we looked good with the ball.
“We had opportunities on their try line and if we had used the ball more instead of kicking dead early in sets we
Matthew Fletcher and Jimmy Beckett both did well, as did Phil Joy and Spanner [Jack Spencer].
“Normally, we do okay wider out but on this occasion Widnes’s outside backs were a little bit faster, stronger and smarter.”
Oldham’s task was made more difficult by the injuries suffered to John Worthington, Lewis Charnock and Danny Bridge.
Worthington completed the tie, but had to go to hospital afterwards for X-rays on an injured jaw, Bridge joined him for scans to see if a dislocated thumb was also broken and Charnock picked up a knee injury.
Further checks will be required to see if any of the trio are fit to travel to France or if they will join Jode Sheriffe, Ben Davies, Cam Leeming, John Hutchings and Ed Smith on the club’s injured list.
“We go to Toulouse now and they’re a very strong side, especially at home,” said Diskin.
“Decisions on the injured will be made later but we’ll be going to improve on this performance and to put right the things we didn’t do so well against Widnes.
“We’ll be doing our best to get a result and to do ourselves proud.”