Oldham edge derby thriller

Date published: 16 August 2013


ROCHDALE 25, OLDHAM 30
THREE tries in 17 stunning minutes early in the second half carried Oldham to victory at Spotland last night.

Premier Sports viewers were treated to a game that had it all — nine tries, exciting movement, brutal defence, fighting, yellow cards - and a late Hornets fightback that had Roughyeds fans checking their watch every few seconds.

Scott Naylor’s Championship One leaders got there in the end, 30-25 to maintain the title pressure on second-placed North Wales Crusaders - seven points behind with three games worth nine points still to play.

Crusaders can afford to drop two of the nine points - but anything more than that, such as defeat by at least 13 points, would give Naylor’s men the championship.

Determined to empty the players’ heads of the clutter of the occasion, Naylor insisted his players’ focus should be entirely on beating the team in front of them. They certainly did that.

Rochdale was expected to offer stubborn resistance and didn’t disappoint.

There were worrying signs for Oldham when the Roughyeds’ defensive line was breached three times early on.

Sam Gee’s 40-20 kick had given Oldham their first foothold on enemy territory and it had led to the opening try by skipper Lewis Palfrey, who collected Mark Hobson’s final pass to crash over.

Below their best in the first half, Roughyeds often coughed up possession, but they levelled at 12-12 when Chris Baines knocked-on to give the visitors scrum possession.

Hard-running Michael Ward, inspirational off the bench, surged towards the Hornets posts and, when held just short, offloaded a great ball to Liam Gilchrist, who touched down.

Oldham’s pack-inspired revival continued in true Roughyeds’ fashion early in the second half.

Gilchrist, Ward and Liam Thompson were in full flow while Adam Files capitalised with telling breaks from dummy half.

As the momentum switched dramatically Oldham’s way, Thompson, Danny Langtree and new boy Chris Clarke scored tries which Palfrey converted to push the visitors into a 30-13 lead.

Files, Palfrey and Josh Crowley excelled with the respective assists as Oldham seemed to be taking a firm grip.

Hornets weren’t finished, and by shipping the ball right at every opportunity they created space to score twice out wide in the space of three minutes.

Crook landed two beautiful conversions off the touchline and with the lead cut to 30-25 Oldham’s slip was starting to show.

It was then, under heavy fire, that the side regrouped, rolled up its sleeves and produced a magnificent defensive effort to keep the home side out.