Roughyeds tough it out: OLDHAM 22, HUNSLET 16

ACTION MAN . . . Paul Reilly tries to squeeze through a pair of Hunslet tackles in the driving rain at Boundary Park

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THERE was plenty of heavy weather hanging around at Boundary Park.

The only ground in the country to boast its very own weather system — from tropical sunshine to biblical downpour in the time it takes to buy a meat pie, and very rarely the other way around — was up to its old tricks in the last game to be played before the annual pitch work begins, turning what had been an attractive and open game into an up-the-jumper, safety-first sort of encounter.

Roughyeds coach Tony Benson would have had it no other way and may even of been thankful for the deluge which stifled his side’s more exuberant nature.

Leading 18-16 at half-time, Oldham were unable to shake off the attentions of a Hunslet side which performed the basics of the game very well.

The jury may be out on whether the Hawks’ three first-half tries came about more as a result of good, positive attacking play or suspect defence — or, as was the case when Nicko Slain crossed two minutes before half-time, a lenient referee in Matthew Kidd failing to detect a double movement.

But what will be for sure in Benson’s mind is that his side gave up too much ball within their own territory, repeating the mistakes of last week’s Challenge Cup defeat away to Gateshead.

Still, while the first half was slightly madcap, the fact that Oldham played it so tight after the break, not conceding a single point to a Hunslet side packed with nous and infectious enthusiasm, will bring enough comfort to make up for the fact that the six-point cushion which existed for more than half-an-hour at the end of the clash was never extended.

Three league points aren’t to be sniffed at in a division which remains fiercely tight and competitive.

Oldham made a bright start to the game and could, possibly should, have been two tries to the good in the opening exchanges.

Dave Allen bombed a chance when losing control in the act of touching down and Thomas Coyle lacked support when breaking free down the centre, eventually throwing a hopeful pass which was intercepted by former Roughyeds loan centre Michael Brown.

Hunslet, bright on attack throughout the first half, then took the first chance offered to them. Veteran hooker Richard Chapman appeared to have nowhere to go as he attempted a scoot on the last tackle, but Roughyeds pairing Danny Halliwell and Paul O’Connor failed to stop him from extending an arm across the line, Tom Sheldrake converting.

Oldham’s response arrived quickly. Andy Ballard’s kick bounced out behind the posts and from the resulting set after the drop-out, Thomas Coyle sent out an accurate long pass which Marcus St Hilaire took full advantage of, Ballard levelling the scores with a terrific effort from well out on the left.

Ballard then produced a moment of magic at the end of a sparkling, sweeping Oldham move three minutes later. The winger, taking the ball from O’Connor with little room to work with, freed his arm to flick a brilliant short pass out to Halliwell to touch down on 21 minutes.

Hunslet wouldn’t be cowed and hit back five minutes later. After Gareth Firm was held up over the line, Michael Mark squeezed his way over in the left corner when he had no real right to, reducing the deficit to 12-10.

Robert Roberts put Oldham further in front when hitting a big gap off another strong O’Connor run seven minutes before the break.

But the home team failed to maintain that lead and conceded again when Firm was allowed to wait, wait and wait some more for Slain to run the angle on which he could score from out on the right. Sheldrake’s conversion made it 18-16 as the sides changed ends.

The only scoring action after the break came about when Thomas Coyle again worked a long pass out for the excellent St Hilaire to slide home.

Hunslet pressed without ever really looking like making a breakthrough and, as heavy rain fell, Ballard pulled a penalty attempt wide around the hour mark, after Hunslet’s Joe Howey had a try chalked off for a very obvious forward pass.

Thomas Coyle’s drop goal missed to the right as time ticked away, leaving the visitors with only a bonus point to show for their considerable efforts.0






Patient approach pays off for Benson



ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson was delighted with the way his team completely shut out Hunslet at Boundary Park to edge a highly competitive game.



Leading 18-16 against clearly able opposition as the sides changed ends, Oldham’s coach stressed the need to play a patient game, designed to put as little pressure on the team’s own defence as possible.

Despite a torrential downpour in the second half, the Roughyeds’ grip on an important encounter duly held in order to record a sixth win in eight Co-operative Championship One games.

“It was a tough game,” Benson said. “They are a good side, very enthusiastic, and came at us as we knew they would.

“From where they are in the table we knew it was a very important game for both teams.

“First half, we forced passes we didn’t need to force and tried to play too much in our own half but after half-time we got it absolutely right and managed to hold out.

“Their first-half tries were simply to do with territory and giving the ball up in our own half. We are working hard to change that but it is not something that happens overnight.

“They had enough ball and territory to cause us some problems and some of the (refereeing) decisions put extra pressure on us that I don’t think should have been there.

“As a team it was a very good win. It takes a lot to keep a team like that out so a lot of credit goes to the boys and I think they played very well in the second half.

“We were very tight with the ball, kept it to ourselves as much as we could and controlled the game.”

Despite only ever being one converted score ahead in the game, Benson felt that it would have been a mistake to go for a one-point effort any earlier than was the case when Thomas Coyle’s attempt drifted wide with five minutes left.

“We never panicked and I felt pretty comfortable throughout the game,” Benson added.

“We weren’t tempted to go for a drop goal earlier as we felt the try was going to come, if we hung in there and kept the pressure on.

“If you do it too early you rest on it and that is when the game falls apart.”