Crowley’s drop of magic

Photo: Dave Murgatroyd

NO STOPPING HIM: Danny Langtree powers through to score a try for Oldham.

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HUNSLET 24, OLDHAM 25

AFTER 80 minutes of exhilarating play-off rugby, Hunslet and Oldham were separated by Josh Crowley’s hurriedly-executed drop goal on the stroke of half time.

Four tries apiece, four goals apiece. But unlike Crowley, who had never booted a ball in anger before, kickaholic Thomas Coyle put his last-minute effort well wide and Oldham could celebrate a richly-deserved victory by the narrowest of margins.

Crowley’s one-pointer had rocketed Roughyeds to within 80 minutes of their sixth final in eight years.

As the hooter went at the end of a stunning first half, he found himself in possession 20 metres from Hunslet’s line and to the left of the posts.

At 12-6 down, a Roper or a Palfrey would have put the ball high in the hope of forcing an error. Not our Josh.

Of the split-second decision that was to prove decisive, he said: “The hooter went off and I suppose I just acted instinctively. Going for the drop goal seemed to be the right thing to do and seeing as I scored, I suppose it was. It was the first goal I’ve ever kicked - and there’s every chance it will the last.”

Scott Naylor described the goal as a “fluke” and added: “He could try that 20 times and miss every time. But we’ll take it. It made all the difference in the end.”

In the battle to capture the high ground that will be Finals Day at Headingley on October 5, Oldham’s triumph was ample compensation for the setback at Gateshead which cost a second-place finish in the league.

They now have the assurance of a home tie in the major semi-final if they lose at York next Sunday.

And that’s the least they deserve after their best performance of the season — one which had fans spilling on to the athletics track around the ground to hug and back-slap their heroes as they walked off.

Hunslet stormed into an early 12-0 lead before Oldham regained their composure to smash them with 25 unanswered points in as many minutes.

With a 13-point lead and time running out, Roughyeds looked to be safe, but Hawks scored two quick tries to set up a tension-packed finish.

After a nervy start, full-back Steven Nield made several long-range breaks on kick returns, one of which set up Dale Bloomfield’s try early in the second half.

Steve Roper and Lewis Palfrey outplayed the Coyle brothers at half-back, Roper continuing his impressive run of form as the side’s general-in-chief.

Palfrey’s kicking game was spot-on, as was James Coyle’s, but collectively the Oldham halves had more to offer with ball in hand, especially Roper on the left.

The four subs – Michael Ward, Nathan Mason, Kenny Hughes and George Tyson – also made a significant impact.

Bloomfield’s try three minutes into the second half was quickly followed by a Tyson bust which sent in Danny Langtree to put Roughyeds in front for the first time.

Roper converted and then added a penalty before more slick attacking rugby gave Ward the opportunity to smash his way past three defenders and score under the posts.

At 25-12, Oldham were sitting pretty, but a fortuitous try by March and a brilliant solo score by Duffy, both improved by March, had both sets of fans on the edge of their seats in the last ten minutes.

On current form, you would be hard pressed to find a stronger bench in any of the play-off teams, including table-toppers York.