Roughyeds muck in to clinch win
Date published: 24 February 2011
OLDHAM Roughyeds reserves defied awful conditions at Whitebank last night to score five tries in a 28-10 win against the second string of Championship club Halifax.
This was most definitely a throwback to days when they often played in mist and mud.
It was Oldham's second victory in two pre-season warm-up games against Championship opposition, this following the 36-12 triumph over Dewsbury Rams a fortnight ago.
Michael Ward, Lewis Brookes, Matthew Fogarty, Alex Thompson and Chris Dean scored the tries, while goalkicker Jamie Dallimore converted four of them to add to his six-from-six return against Dewsbury.
Coach John Hough was satisfied with the victory, although he pinpointed things on which his players can improve.
"It was a good win," he said.
"We are looking stronger by the week as we build towards the start of our league programme.“But we need to learn how to adapt to the heavy conditions. We could be playing on heavy pitches for a few weeks yet.
"We did simple things well, but there were times when we complicated things and then we didn't look as good.
"Conditions dictated that it was a forward battle, just as they did in the Dewsbury game."
Early on, half-backs Dallimore and Tommy Connick moved the ball wide both ways with speed and precision as Roughyeds raced into a 16-0 lead inside half-an-hour.
Ward proved a tower of strength in the second-row. As conditions worsened, Roughyeds had to adopt a more direct approach up the middle, this producing second-half tries up the hill for ex-Warrington Wolves pair Thompson and Dean.
