Roughyeds lose play-off

OLDHAM Roughyeds' second team's admirable season in a Reserves Division dominated by Championship sides ended at Widnes on Saturday with a 40-24 play-off defeat.

After finishing fifth behind Championship clubs Whitehaven, Featherstone, Leigh and Widnes, John Hough's men achieved their season's main objective which was to qualify for the play-offs for the first time since the team was re-formed under Hough in 2008.

"We got to where we wanted to be, and that was tremendous," said John. "But I'm a perfectionist so I was disappointed to lose at Widnes.

"We stuck to our game plan for 20 minutes and everything was going well, but then we moved away from it and pressed the self-destruct button.

"We have some good individuals who are going to be pushing for advancement within the club but we need to be a bit smarter at crucial times.

"We will soon be having an internal review of the season and making decisions. We have had a good season but we must always be striving to better ourselves and that will be the aim next year."

Roughyeds led 12-0 after 12 minutes; trailed 16-14 at half-time; went in front 20-16 early in the second half, but then conceded four tries without reply before Luke Sutton crashed over for his side's fourth and final try near the end.

Winger Steven Lynch and hookers Scott Mansfield and Austen Barrowclough also scored Oldham tries, while Dean Hatton, who was sent off for punching near the end, kicked four goals.

Roughyeds: Coates; Lynch, Williams, Knight, Chetwynd; Hatton, Connick; Raftery, Mansfield, Mellor, Ward, Smith, Brocklehurst. Subs: Barrowclough, Joy, Cadd, Sutton.