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Hornets to make up for Lions lapse

26/ 2/2008

BOBBIE Goulding, whose team suffered an agonising last-minute defeat against Swinton Lions at Spotland on Sunday, will be looking to bounce back when his team face Oldham Roughyeds at Boundary Park on Friday night.

In particular, he will be looking for his players to focus for the full 80 minutes, something which has been lacking so far this season.

The Hornets boss knows errors by his team handed victory on a plate to the Lions and, as far as his small squad permits, will ring the changes.

He said: "There will be changes don’t worry about that. Ian Sinfield will be back, Chris Campbell will be back and possibly Jamie Benn, but there will definitely be changes for Friday. There’s got to be because Oldham had a good win against Salford last week.

"We’ve got to play for the full 80 minutes. Poor completion of our sets is killing us. Fifty-seven per cent completion in both halves just isn’t good enough, yet despite that we were still in the game.

"To be truthful I think the lads have had their pockets picked. At Swinton we fought our way back into the game and scored 26 points on the bounce.

"Our mistakes are letting sides into the game at important times. It’s our mistakes that are handing opponents wins and we have to rectify that as soon as possible.

"I thought the first half, apart from the try just before half time, was outstanding. We moved the ball and put into practice everything we had done in training. We supported one another, and when they kicked to us we carried it back and guarded our players. We were full of enthusiasm.

"We came out after half time and the first thing I said was let’s complete the first set. We didn’t and Swinton got a roll on from there."

Goulding was also unhappy with the performance of the referee and added a word of caution to those in charge: "The referee? I’ve never seen a penalty in 10 years for people rolling the ball between their legs. Andy Marsh got pulled twice. The second time he did make an effort and it was an absolute joke. He’s absolutely stung us. The referee has cost those players money.

"I’ve had a message off the match commissioner that we have to give these young referees experience during the National Rail Cup. But not when there’s money and livelihoods on the go.

"I didn’t think his fitness was up to scratch. He kept stopping and starting the game and we like a free flowing game. With that referee’s performance there is a player going to get hurt with the things, from both sides, that he failed to pull up on.

"Don’t let coaches keep on saying I told you so, I told you so. Stop it before it happens."

Friday’s match kicks off at 8pm.