WHILE needing no reminding Haydock will not be the toughest opponents Oldham are likely to meet on their twin trophy adventure, Roughyeds’ coaching staff were happy with their 14-try performance in their third-round Challenge Cup victory.

Assistant coach Peter Carey described his side’s offering in freakishly windy conditions as “comprehensive and clinical” and he was particularly pleased that moves and techniques worked on in training were put into practice and used successfully as they ran out 80-10 winners.

“It’s always good when you see that,” said Scott Naylor’s number two, who was also moved to comment on the success of a new half-back combination in Anthony Bowman and Adam Brook.

“It worked well and it gives us another option at the heart of the attack,” he said.

Bowman suffered a second-half back injury but the early prognosis was it was not too serious and, with luck, he would be ready to return soon.

Roughyeds have no game on Sunday and their next test will be London Skolars at the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday, March 24 when the occasion will double-up as a big community day, featuring the launch of an under-16s club, Roary’s Pride, and an invitation to the game to local schools who are involved in the ‘Oldham Pledge’, a scheme aiming to ensure all schildren in the town have the opportunities to develop their skills and character traits.

“We’ve a little bit of time now to get ready for Skolars and we’ll benefit from that,” Carey added. “When Bowman was hurt we used Jamie Greenwood in the halves and he did okay too.

“We were disappointed with the two tries we let in. We just seemed to switch off a couple of times and we paid the penalty, but overall we scored some great tries and did what we had to do so that has to be very pleasing.”

Oldham have never had as many players from Yorkshire in the squad as they do now – 12 – and chairman Chris Hamilton referred to “these two Yorkies” when presenting individual awards to half-back Brook, a Halifax lad, and Kyran Johnson, who was born in Castleford and lives in Featherstone.

“I should have got the translator in,” he joked.

He said Brook’s goal-kicking in the fierce wind – 12 goals from 14 attempts – was exceptional from the player on a season-long loan from Halifax.

“He’s won the champagne-moment award because of his all-round performance,” he added of Johnson. “He’s had to be patient to get his chance, but he’s enjoying his time here and long may that continue.”

Johnson said: “The conditions made it tough but we were professional in what we did and I think anyone in our team could have won the man-of-the-match award.”