Oldham suffer again as slump continues

Photo: PICTURE: CHRIS SUNDERLAND.

UP FOR THE BATTLE: Chris Clarke tries to beat the tackles for Oldham.

Oldham 32, Crusaders 36
WE knew the Welsh liked their rugby. But did anyone in Oldham ever think there would be a day when a new club from Wrexham would turn Whitebank into a showcase for Welsh supremacy?

Seven-try Crusaders were allowed to look like the best side seen here this season.

'Fortress' Whitebank was breached as the Welshmen, slaughtered 58-0 at Workington last time out, became the first team in 2012 to win here in the league. Oldham, a poor second, were left to contemplate what went wrong.

Injury to Neil Roden was a blow: the jury is still out on his short-term replacement Graham Holroyd.

Oldham have won well without both of them, but have still to win with Holroyd in the middle.

Roughyeds were made to look ordinary by a Welsh pack in which second-rowers Jamie Clarke and Oldham-born Anthony Morrison stood out.

Jamie Dallimore and Miles Greenwood in the backs and Jason Boults, Jamie Acton and David Ellison in the forwards were Oldham's best, but until the last 20 minutes the overall performance was flat and lacking self-belief and conviction.

Crusaders led 36-22 going into the last few minutes, but late tries by Ellison and Greenwood raised hopes that Oldham might snatch it before Dallimore went close to doing just that.





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