SCOTT Naylor described it as his side’s “best show of the season by a long shot.”

He was impressed too by the attendance of 709 (226 up on the average for the previous six corresponding games) and said he and the players were delighted to see so many fans in attendance as Roughyeds beat London Skolars 34-4 to go second in the Betfred League 1 table.

“The lads were chuffed to see a crowd like that and were so pleased that they were able to play as well as they did,” he said.

“Hopefully, the fans will stick with us and come back for more of the same because the club needs as much support as it can possibly muster and I’ve got a bunch of lads who will never, ever give less than 100 per cent – and that’s just a minimum requirement.”

He said Skolars were big, strong and powerful and he expected them to surprise a few teams this year.

Added the Roughyeds boss: “Ours was a good, professional performance – the best so far – in which we limited them to very few chances. They’re strong, athletic and powerful and to limit a side like that to one try off a kick says a lot about our defence and our attitude to hard graft when opponents have the ball.

“It was also good to see how well we cleared our line on exit sets, completed our sets and avoided putting ourselves under pressure by inviting London into our half.

“We’ve made life difficult for ourselves a few times this season but this time we didn’t and I see that as a really important turn-around for us.

“It was a huge positive and another was the way we looked dangerous with the ball.

“We scored some nice tries and a wide selection of tries, both on the fringes by the outside backs and also by the ‘middles’ up the middle.

“London are not the team they were. They’ll surprise a few teams in this division and win games they’re not expected to win. I feel sure about that.”

Jack Holmes was led off the field after a second-half injury stoppage but Naylor said it was quickly evident he had not suffered a head knock, as was first thought, but was feeling ill, adding: “Jack hadn’t been well before the game.

“He’d been feeling a bit sick and it was better that he went off. He wanted to go back on, but there was no need for him to so we acted in his best interests and kept him off.

“Titus Gwaze also left the field, but again it wasn’t too serious. It was a touch of cramp. He’s very young for a prop and he’s doing a lot of training with Wakefield in the day and with us in the evening.”

Roughyeds now start preparations for Sunday’s visit of Championship outfit Widnes Vikings, to Bower Fold, Stalybridge Celtic’s ground, in the fourth round of the Coral Challenge Cup (3pm).

To clear up any possible confusion the club wishes to emphasise the tie is not an all-ticket match.

Everyone will pay at the turnstiles – usual Betfred League 1 prices apply, apart from junior season-ticket holders (under-16s), who can get in on production of their season-ticket book.