Resilient Neal leads by example

JUMP TO IT: Oldham's Scott Turner leaps for a high ball during the Good Friday game against Swinton at Bower Fold

IN a remarkable feat of endurance, top prop Adam Neal played for the full 80 minutes in Oldham's 22-18 win against Swinton Lions.

Neal (26), a personal trainer outside rugby, insisted he could go the distance because Phil Joy, Ben Davies and Jack Spencer were out injured and there was only one other recognised prop, Michael Ward, on the bench.

"His resilience is exceptional," said coach Scott Naylor. "He answered our call, as I knew he would. It showed how much the team and club mean to him."

Making it three home wins out of four, Roughyeds led 18-0 early in the second half with stand-out performances by full-back Richard Lepori, centre Danny Grimshaw and forwards Neal, Danny Langtree, Ward and Sammy Gee.

It was rugby league in the raw with two incidents put on report; 22 penalties in total; sin-bin spells for Oldham's Mikey Wood and Swinton's Anthony Bate; and ferocious big hits led by Neal, Langtree and Ward for Roughyeds and the irrepressible Josh Barlow for the Lions.

Oldham were the better side first half, but injury-hit Swinton fought back gamely after half-time to play an open brand of rugby and give Roughyeds a fright. Summed up Naylor: "We deserved the win - just."

Oldham - tries: Gee (25), Lepori (28), Ward (42). Goals: Leatherbarrow 5/5.

Swinton - tries: Robinson (46), Hankinson (60), Murphy (73). Goals: Atkin 3/3.

OLDHAM: Lepori; Clay, Tyson, Grimshaw, Turner; Leatherbarrow, Hewitt; Neal, Owen, Burke, Langtree, Wood, Thompson. Subs (all used): Ward, Bent, Hughes, Gee.

SWINTON: Murphy; Robinson, Hankinson, White, Butt; Gore, Atkin; Bracek, Nicholson, Barlow, Dwyer, Davies, Thornley. Subs (all used): Bate, Lever; Waterworth, Austin.

Ref: Liam Moore; Att: 804.