Out of sorts Oldham stung by Scorpions
Date published: 16 May 2011
Photo: Pictures by IAN LOVELL.
BEN Heaton looks to attack the Scorpions defence with ball in hand
South Wales 40, Oldham 20
OLDHAM came back from their long day trip to South Wales with nothing as they were outplayed on the way to defeat against the Scorpions in Caerphilly.
Only a pair of late tries from Shaun Robinson and Ben Heaton prevented this from being an even heavier defeat, at the hands of a side who in recent weeks struggled to see off London Skolars on home soil by a mere two-point margin.
With experienced men back in the line-up after last week’s virtual reserves side took to the field in the Carnegie Challenge Cup at Hull FC to be duly dispatched 82-0, better was expected from the Roughyeds.
A fifth defeat in nine Co-operative Championship One games casts further doubt on the squad’s chances of making it to a fifth successive play-off final come the end of the campaign.
Oldham had their chances — but credit must go to the South Wales defence who stood firm for most of the attacks.
The home back-line was tested through a fifth-minute chance for Oldham, with a move involving Neil Roden and Heaton ending with Mick Fogerty pushed into touch by Jamie Murphy.
Scorpions responded with Steve Parry forcing his way over from short range to establish a lead on seven minutes, Murphy adding the goal.
Roughyeds levelled up following a good set of six which saw John Clough crash over after neat work from Neil Roden, Carl Forber converting.
But it wasn’t level for long. From a penalty, Neil Dallimore stormed through with his first touch of the ball after coming on as substitute. Murphy converted.
Oldham fought back once more. Forber set up Fogerty to dive over, although Forber missed the kick to leave Scorpions still 12-10 up.
Fogerty almost gave Tony Benson’s men the lead, but was denied by a try-saving tackle from Lee Williams.
They were left to lament that as South Wales scored two quick tries before half-time.
First, Murphy sprinted half the length of field after 35 minutes to score under the posts, converting his own try.
And next, Casey Bromilow broke through the Oldham backline to register a minute before the break.
At the interval, facing a 22-10 deficit it was vital for Oldham’s chances that they claimed to first score of the second period.
Instead, though, South Wales increased their advantage — with a try completely out of the blue.
Dalton Grant caught a high Forber bomb and made 30 metres of ground.
From the next play, Curtis Cunningham sprinted 50 metres to score, with Bromilow converting.
Scorpions were unfortunate not to increase their lead further. A Grant try was disallowed following Christiaan Roets’ forward pass, after Harri Greville’s 50-metre run.
At the other end, John Clough was close to getting his second try of the afternoon but good defence kept him from the line and the hand-over was forced, while Roughyeds were unfortunate not to regain the ball from a 40-20 with Forber’s effort going out on around the 21-metre mark.
Bromilow was denied a second try following a knock-on, but the Scorpions weren’t to be denied.
Following a penalty, Andrew Gay weaved his way over before Loz Wildbore dived across from close range. Bromilow converted both.
With the game won and the Scorpions tired, Oldham came back with two late tries.
First, from a scrum Ben Wood set up Robinson.
Then Heaton went in under the sticks in the dying seconds, Forber adding the conversion which was a mere consolation.
