Battling Oldham bow out of cup
Reporter: by MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 05 June 2009
OLDHAM skipper Rob Roberts looks to offload in the tackle. Picture by DARREN ROBINSON.
Oldham 18, Featherstone 32
THE GOING was just too tough for a battling Roughyeds side in Leigh.
Championship high-flyers Featherstone Rovers were stronger, quicker and more canny than Tony Benson’s men – though the ‘home’ side can take plenty of credit for their efforts on the night.
After moving into a 12-6 lead in the first half thanks to superb tries from Andy Ballard and Danny Halliwell, Oldham – playing host to the West Yorkshire side in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Leigh Sports Village stadium – were put under tremendous pressure by Featherstone and did superbly to concede only the one try, unconverted, taking a 12-10 scoreline in at half-time.
On the resumption, things didn’t quite go according to plan. A dropped ball early in the half was the catalyst for a period of three game-breaking Rovers scores inside 10 minutes which tilted the balance of the Northern Rail Cup semi-final decisively the way of the visitors.
A scintillating Lee Greenwood try was then followed up by one or two dangerous moments for Daryl Powell’s Rovers side, but ultimately the game was up for Oldham, for whom the Championship One promotion race is now the sole focus for the season.
Benson will hope to take into that mission the positive aspects of a determined effort against what he reckons is the best side the Roughyeds have faced all year.
Featherstone opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Joe McLocklan nipped over from dummy-half, Stuart Dickens adding the extras.
Oldham hit back when Dave Allen’s smart offload from a spilled ball found Andy Ballard and the winger streaked down centre-field past a number of defenders to score a spectacular 70-metre effort he converted himself.
Rovers then found themselves behind when Neil Roden’s beautifully timed short pass found Danny Halliwell steaming through a gap on the right.
Ballard made it 12-6 in the home side’s favour and Featherstone appeared to be wobbling.
From that point on, though, Rovers dominated the territorial battle with a high level of intensity and exemplary ball control.
Only a series of superb defensive efforts – none more so than defending a set on their own line at the back end of the half – kept Featherstone out, except for the moment when Tommy Haughey crashed over on the left just before the half-hour mark.
After the break, though, the game fell apart for the Roughyeds. A dropped ball close to the try line gave Rovers possession and Joe Hirst crossed for a try which was approved by video referee Robert Hicks.
Jon Steel was next in four minutes later and when chief tormentor with the boot Andy Kain created the a try for Matthew Dale with a lob over the defence, Oldham were 28-12 down and faced with climbing the proverbial mountain.
A ray of light was discovered by winger Lee Greenwood.
Taking on Roden’s clever chip over the defensive line, the former Leigh man picked the ball off his toes and scooted around full-back Ian Hardman to register a terrific effort five minutes before the hour, Ballard converting to bring the deficit back to 10.
Ballard then narrowly failed to cleanly pick up Phil Joseph’s chip down the line as Oldham gamely pressed on, but Andy Kirk rounded off a smart spate of keeping the ball alive to run home Featherstone’s final try, deservedly securing them the coveted semi-finals place.
