Nine-try romp for Roughyeds

Oldham’s Jamie Kerr forces his way through for a try to round off an excellent passing move by the Roughyeds reserves.

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OLDHAM 52 BARROW 10

DOMINANT Oldham punished Barrow in the sun at Sedgley Park, running in nine tries to make it back-to-back wins in the Reserve Team First Division.

Coach John Hough had emphasised to his young charges the need to make a quick start against a depleted Cumbrian outfit which had arrived late at the ground due to the coach being held up in heavy motorway traffic.

With an experienced half-back pairing of Chris Hough and new on-loan stand-off Matty Ashe directing operations, that is exactly what the Roughyeds came up with to storm into an early lead which they never looked back from, picking up a first home victory of the season to add to the one gained at Dewsbury.

“I asked the guys to back up what they did last week and we did it today, so I am really pleased,” said the Roughyeds coach Hough.

“It was tough for Barrow to come off the coach a little bit late and we highlighted that and wanted to start the game strongly.

“We got 18-0 up in the first 10 minutes of the game and took it on from there.”

With first-team squad props Luke Sutton and Wayne Kerr both starting the game, the home side blitzed Barrow from the off.

The first try came after two minutes, with a break from debutant Ashe setting up full-back Ross Coates and further quick scores from the impressive Sean Robinson and Todd O’Brien, all converted by Mark Smith, helped Oldham to a commanding lead.

The visitors bombed a couple of good chances to respond and the home side further increased the lead in the 27th minute, Ashe working a good move with Declan Foy – son of former Oldham star Des – to score against the run of play.

Sutton then bulldozed over on the left and two more Smith goals had the Roughyeds 30-0 up and in total control.

Barrow responded shortly before half-time with a good individual effort from Marc Dixon, converted by Johnny Walsh.

O’Brien got his second after Kerr had piled his way through the tackles down the centre and eight minutes into the half, Dale Lowe’s sharp pass was accepted by powerful winger Ward for the second of his treble, Smith converting both.

Jamie Knight was on the end of a terrific move as the ball passed through several sets of hands on the hour, the accurate Smith missing his only conversion of the day before making amends six minutes later when Ward completed his hat-trick.

Barrow picked up a late consolation through Dixon’s try, but all in all John Hough was a happy man and hopes his team can continue to make rapid progress.

“As a team we are getting it together now,” Hough said. “The performances are coming not from one or two players, but across the board which is pleasing for us and we will develop and take it on.

“We have highlighted the players we needed and have brought them in, so we are gelling now.

“We will maybe have one or two additions to the team now to take us forward, trying a few younger players as that is the whole idea. Michael Arrowsmith played his first game here, for example.

“We won’t change it too much at once though.”

Oldham: Coates; Ward, Foy, J Knight, Robinson; Ashe, Hough; Sutton, O’Brien, Kerr, Clarke, Smith, Heaton. Subs: Lowe, D Knight, Mansfield, Arrowsmith.

Tries: Coates, Ward 3, O’Brien 2, Ashe, Sutton, J Knight. Goals: Smith 8/9

Barrow: Backhouse; Walsh, Dixon, Miller, Norman; Tyson, Cairns; McGoff, J Cargan, Rordihan, Storey, Palmer, Gordon. Subs: Dawson, D Cargan, Beach, Darby.

Tries: Dixon 2. Goal: Walsh 1/2.