HEAD coach Scott Naylor has welcomed Oldham RLFC’s tough start to Betfred League One in 2019.

Roughyeds open up with Workington and Whitehaven at the Vestacare Stadium on the first two Sundays of the new campaign, then it’s North Wales Crusaders away, London Skolars at home, Newcastle Thunder away and Hunslet at home.

That’s four of the first six league games at the Vestacare Stadium by Easter.

“To play a few tough, demanding games in a row can be beneficial in terms of hitting consistency at the right level,” said the Roughyeds boss.

“It can be a positive to play tough, highly competitive matches each week because consistency at a high level is a good thing to aim for.”

Fixtures 2019

February

Sun 17 Workington Town H 3pm

Sun 24 Whitehaven H 3pm

March

Sun 3 North Wales Crusaders A 3pm

Sun 10 Challenge Cup R3

Sun 24 London Skolars H 3pm

Sun 31 Challenge Cup R4

April

Sun 7 Newcastle Thunder A 3pm

Sun 14 Challenge Cup R5

Fri 19 Hunslet H 3pm

Sat 27 West Wales Raiders A 3pm

May

Sun 5 1895 Cup R1

Sun 12 Challenge Cup R6

Sun 19 Coventry Bears H 3pm

Sun 26 Keighley Cougars A 3pm

June

Sun 2 Challenge Cup QF

Wed 5 1895 Cup R2

Sun 9 Doncaster A 3pm

Sun 16 Keighey Cougars H 3pm

Sun 23 Workington Town A 3pm

Thurs 27 1895 Cup QF

Sun 30 West Wales Raiders H 3pm

July

Sun 7 Whitehaven A 3pm

Sun 14 North Wales Crusaders H 3pm

Sun 28 Challenge Cup/1895 Cup SF

August

Sat 3 London Skolars A 3pm

Sun 11 Newcastle Thunder H 3pm

Sun 18 Doncaster H 3pm

Sat 24 Challenge Cup/1895 Cup finals

September

Sun 1 Coventry Bears A 3pm

Sun 8 Hunslet A 3pm

Sun 15 Play-off 1

Sun 22 Play-off 2

Sun 29 Play-off 3

October

Sun 6 Promotion final