Comeback not quite enough for third successive win

Off-key Roughyeds fail to force victory

OLDHAM 22, SHEFFIELD 34

A ROUSING second-half comeback from the Roughyeds wasn't quite enough to snatch a third straight Northern Rail Cup victory.

A peculiar clash at Boundary Park, featuring a second-half points avalanche after a period of solid defensive resistance in the opening 40 minutes, seemed to have swung Oldham's way when Wayne Kerr crashed over off Phil Joseph's short pass on 69 minutes.

It was a carbon copy of the Ireland international's effort in midweek against Rochdale – only this time it didn't count, due to a touch judge ruling the ball had travelled forward.

Instead of drawing level at 20-20 with a simple kick bang in front of the uprights to come, Oldham remained adrift of a Sheffield side who were well-drilled, professional and efficient.

The Roughyeds went on to concede another penalty goal and two late tries, though a late Jamie I'Anson effort and Andy Ballard conversion at least gave Tony Benson's side a bonus point for their efforts.

Oldham could also point to key decisions going against them either side of the break. Ballard appeared to have touched down from James Coyle's hoisted high kick right on the half-time hooter, only for the effort to be chalked off in the defence's favour.

On the restart, Sheffield were awarded the put in at the scrum when Brendon Lindsay fired a kick into Coyle before the ball went out of play, and a slick move that followed the strange decision by 23-year-old referee Greg Dolan ended up with full-back Jonny Woodcock scoring a try.

Hard luck stories aside, it all means that Oldham will now need to win at Hunslet next week to make it through to the competition's quarter-finals.

Though there was something missing from the performance against the Eagles – there wasn't quite enough cohesion in attack, some of the defending was poor and in general, the side was down a few percentage points on the past two games – there is no doubt that Benson's men would have happily taken a record of two wins and a bonus point from the opening trio of matches, if offered it on a platter pre-season.

Especially with two of those games – the other being the sublime victory at Widnes – pitting the Roughyeds against teams from a higher division.

It is a mark of how highly Oldham are respected that the bookmakers were offering Sheffield a six-point start on the betting handicaps before the game.

It looked good for the home supporters in the first 20 minutes, with Ballard landing a penalty on eight minutes and prop forwards Paul Highton and Jamie I'Anson both making big yards.

But their replacement at the midpoint of the half – Highton never returned – saw the visitors take control.

Sheffield went in front when Andrew Boothroyd picked up from acting half and skirted in under the posts, Woodcock converting.

It followed a couple of questionable calls from Dolan and the Roughyeds' frustrations were made public when, after having a decision go against him while in possession, captain Robert Roberts threw the ball into the turf in disgust.

The home crowd almost had a try to cheer as the half drew to a close, but Ballard's effort was chalked off and Woodcock's try was followed by a penalty and an effort from Lindsay which followed Coyle being unable to find touch after Oldham had been awarded a penalty.

At 20-2 down, a surge from the impressive Paul O'Connor brought hope and with I'Anson and Kerr providing stimulus up front, a win looked on the cards as the Roughyeds surged back.

I'Anson produced two drives in succession to pile over, before a Coyle kick rebounded for Ballard to touch down on the hour.

Then, Kerr's effort was ruled out. Had they scored then, Oldham would have probably gone on to win.

As it was, late tries from Grant Edwards and ex-Roughyeds man Matty Brooks sealed the result, before I'Anson's late effort.