Seven-try stroll for Roughyeds

Michael Brown bursts through the Swinton defence.

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SWINTON 20, OLDHAM 38
IF THERE is such a thing as a routine victory in National League Two, this was it.

Despite a wobbly patch here and there, the Roughyeds ran in seven tries at Sedgley Park to overwhelm Swinton long before the game’s conclusion, further consolidating third spot in the table.

A home play-off tie against either Doncaster or Keighley, for the right to qualify for the Grand Final at the end of September, is the worst prize that now awaits Steve Deakin’s side should they manage to pick up more than a point in next week’s Boundary Park clash with Workington.

Hope still exists, though, that the second automatic promotion spot can yet be snatched away from present incumbents Barrow. Though the Cumbrians chalked up a crucial home win over Keighley on Friday evening, they have two away fixtures still to play – while currently on a run of four consecutive defeats outside of Craven Park.

Two further losses and the (early) exit door to National League One will be thrust open for Oldham.

The last of the Raiders’ games is a tricky fixture away at Doncaster on Wednesday, August 27, three days after the Roughyeds have finished their regular-season campaign.

Before that, Swinton provide the opposition for Barrow. On yesterday’s evidence, that could be a tricky game to negotiate.

True, Oldham had more than enough skill to regularly exploit weaknesses in the Lions defence. Paul O’Connor, scorer of a late try and brilliant creator of an earlier effort for the exciting loan centre Micheal Brown, was a particular thorn in the side of Swinton while ex-Lion Phil Joseph – back on his old stomping ground – defied injury to put in some typically thunderous bursts.

Yet the depleted home side, in with a slim chance of making the play-offs before kick-off, were spirited throughout and the two tries that arrived when the game was well lost proved it.

More of the same early on against the Raiders this coming Saturday and those ghosts of defeats past could hang over Dave Clark’s men.

As for Oldham, a re-jigged side performed well in the circumstances. A number of positional changes were forced on Deakin, who was without Daryl Cardiss and Richard Mervill from the side which beat Barrow a week ago, but the team found its feet well enough to open the scoring when the returning Marcus St Hilaire pounced on Neil Roden’s kick to the right corner.

Swinton bounced back and after Brown had been sin binned for a professional foul, the Lions almost immediately scored as Chris Hull wriggled his way over.

Ian Hodson then restored the lead with a powerful effort and from that point on, the game was safe.

Luke Menzies was the next scorer after a lovely move was set in motion by Brown, executing a perfect centre’s move to set Lucas Onyango away down the line. It left the visitors sitting pretty, 16-4 up at the break.

Oldham stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half. O’Connor created a try from absolutely nothing, taking a poor Hodson pass way above his head, darting through the line before having the presence of mind to execute a well-weighted kick to the corner which Brown profited from.

Another score followed only five minutes into the half as a much better Hodson ball down set away Brown down the left, who fed Onyango.

Liam McGovern responded with a try under the posts just after the hour, before Coyle hoisted a high ball to the right wing which St Hilaire plucked from the air and ran in.

With seven minutes left, the outside of Joseph’s boot flicked the ball into the path of the onrushing O’Connor, and that was that – other than Lions tries from Andy Saywell and a second of the afternoon for Hull.


Patched-up team delights Deakin

STEVE Deakin was pleased with the way his side cruised to victory at Sedgley Park.

A 16th league win of the season halted an unwanted run of three consecutive losses on the Roughyeds’ travels and it was achieved despite the lengthy list of casualties – many of whom took to the field – to keep the pressure up on second-placed Barrow.

“We had five people out there who wouldn’t have played back in May,” said Deakin.

“In the warm-up either Daryl Cardiss or James Coyle (who was named on the bench) wasn’t going to play and the least busted was going to get in.

“But we have had people putting their hands up for us for a while. Phil Joseph was very good today, as he is playing with broken ribs, and other people have aimed up as well.”

Despite the result never being in real doubt, the Lions kept plugging away and came up with two tries in the final four minutes to leave Deakin admitting his side’s finish could have been better.

“We came up with a very good performance for 75 minutes before losing a bit of concentration,” he added. “But I thought at 38-20 it was a fair indication of the difference between the two teams.”