Promotion glory for Oldham

GOAL-GETTER . . . Lewis Palfrey has been in superb form for Oldham this season.

BRILLIANT Oldham beat Keighley Cougars 31-20 to clinch promotion to the Kingstone Press Championship.

Scott Naylor's side held an 18-6 lead at half-time in the League One 'Promotion Final' at Whitebank, with tries from Jon Ford, Adam Neal and Danny Langtree, each converted by skipper Lewis Palfrey.

Keighley threatened a fightback in the second period as they reduced Oldham's advantage to 18-10, but a touch down by George Tyson and then a Palfrey drop goal stretched the Roughyeds' lead to 13 points.

A converted try with six minutes to go saw Keighley move within seven points of Oldham, but the hosts responded with a nerve-calming Adam Clay effort, which Palfrey goaled.

Keighley went over in the final play of the contest watched by 1,405 fans - a new Whitebank record attendance - but by that stage the Oldham fans were celebrating promotion.

Match report, reaction and pictures in Monday's Chronicle.