Roughyeds on brink of securing league title

OVER WE GO . . . players and fans celebrate as Richard Lepori dives in for Oldham’s first try against Swinton Lions. PICTURE by TIM BRADLEY

BY beating Swinton Lions to make it 18 wins from 21 games, Oldham RLFC are practically home and dry in the race to finish top of Kingstone Press League One.

For Keighley to nick it they would have to beat Hemel by more than 100 points next Sunday - and Oldham would have to lose at Oxford the day before.

Oldham players celebrated with fans at the end of the last home league game and chairman Chris Hamilton said: “This is a massive day in the history of the club.

“It’s 18 years since we started the club and I can’t put into words what it means to me to be on the verge of winning our first league title.

“It’s been a massive effort by all concerned. The players have shown great character all season and never more so than today when Liam Thompson stepped up to replace suspended Adam Neal at prop and was absolutely outstanding.

“The same can be said of Gareth Owen. He’s been a massive player all year for us and it was typical of him that, in a key game, he should be heavily involved in laying on three tries.”

Oldham have now racked up 12 wins in a row — a record for the new club, which was formed in late 1997.

Coach Scott Naylor thanked fans for their support all season and added: “It's a pleasure to be part of a club in which we seem to have everything right and working smoothly from top to bottom.

“That’s reflected in our performances on the field.”

George Tyson, concussed when making a second-half tackle, will be assessed on tomorrow when he is feeling better.

Danny Langtree and Jack Holmes are among several other players who are currently carrying knocks that have built up over the course of a long season.

“We’ll check them out later in the week,” added the Roughyeds boss.