Revival can’t mask issues

Adam Clay

THE lasting memory of Good Friday for Oldham RL fans will be of Adam Clay’s length-of-the-field try as the hooter brought down the curtain on Halifax’s 42-28 win at Bower Fold.

Though not built like a typical winger, Clay is deceptively fast - as he demonstrated when going 90 metres with Ben Heaton in hot pursuit to score his second try in six minutes during an inspirational Roughyeds fightback.

Swept aside and thoroughly outclassed, they trailed 30-0 at half-time before getting their act together to become the more dominant side, scoring five second-half tries to the visitors’ two.

Will Hope crashed over twice near the posts as first receiver from dummy-half Kenny Hughes, one of the side’s best performers on the day.

Jamel Chisholm added a third try from Jon Ford’s clever kick to the corner before Roughyeds’ man of the match Clay chipped in with his late double, the first of them on the end of Steve Roper’s angled crosskick.

Said Clay: “We’ve a lot of learning to do in this division, primarily how to play for 80 minutes, not 60. When we do that we’ll surprise a few sides.”

Classy stand-off Scott Murrell, operating behind a mobile pack, was the architect of Halifax’s superb first-half show, while Roper was influential in the home side’s fightback with four conversions, two off the touchline, and a late 40-20.

Joe Burke made his debut off the bench and, for the first time this season, the 17 included teenage dual-reg pair Liam Johnson (18) in the second-row and Tyler Dickinson (19), a prop, among the substitutes.