Gold standard Roper

Oldham’s Josh Crowley gets to grips with a Gloucester attacker. Pictures: LEWIS MITCHELL.

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Oldham travelled to the West Country with a touch of apprehension.

The All Golds are a team on the up: but as events were to unfold it became clear that Oldham had no cause for too much concern on the day Scott Naylor left out his captain and chief playmaker Lewis Palfrey to take a look at borrowed Steve Roper.

The 27-year-old Rochdale Hornets scrum-half is no spring chicken, but his vast experience enabled him to slot into a key pivotal role on debut and stroll through a tricky game as though he had been playing for Oldham all season.

He also took over Palfrey's goalkicking responsibilities, converting three tries but missing three others - two off the touchline in a tricky wind.

In Palfrey's absence, Brett Robinson seemed to grow into the role of senior half-back, he and Roper together providing Naylor's men with leadership and authority where it mattered most.

This was a key element of Oldham's third win in a row, highlighted by two tries from Jon Ford in only his second appearance this season. Having chalked up 21 tries in 15 games last year, the up-and-coming young centre from Salford Red Devils was back to his opportunist best.

Josh Crowley, Dale Bloomfield, Michael Ward and Mo Agoro ran in further tries, but Crowley was put on report for leading with an arm and flopping on Casey Canterbury after making the tackle.

Only eight points separated the teams at the end of 80 minutes of all-action rugby, yet Oldham was nearly always in the lead. Once the team had repelled Gloucester's early attacking sorties, they showed were too strong, too clever and too skilled to lose to the vastly-improved All Golds.

The one disappointing aspect of an overall Oldham team performance that was generally polished and positive was that as in recent weeks, sides have scored tries against Roughyeds in the later stages of games.

It happened again here, not only spoiling the side's points-against record, but allowing opponents to take a bonus point. Oldham twice built 14-point leads only to allow All Golds to fight back.

Jason Boults, recalled to the side in place of Alex Davidson, was a steadying influence at prop, while Phil Joy also strove hard to make an impact, particularly in his second spell.

Crowley and Danny Langtree were, as ever, robust runners out wide.

And the four replacements – George Tyson, Ward, Kenny Hughes and Nathan Mason - gave Roughyeds the luxury of a tremendous bench.

It was on the end of three penalties that Oldham took the lead in the 13th minute. Skipper Sam Gee went close before the ball was shipped to the left, where Robinson's defence-splitting pass opened up enough room for Crowley to crash over.

A superb left-flank move featuring Thomas and Te'o gave the hard-working Fairbank a try which Jenkins goaled for a 6-4 lead, but before half-time Oldham were to score two more tries to go in at 14-6.

Ford scored another early in the second half, this time bursting on to an intercept ball from Danny Fallon before going threequarters of the length of the pitch to touch down.

After that, the teams scored in turns. Oldham never looked in serious danger, nor could they put the game to bed, such was Gloucester's fighting spirit and determination to stay in contention.

Then the visitors' final try fell to Agoro, who received from Steve Nield to finish spectacularly with a dive to the corner.