Roughyeds put the record straight

GATESHEAD’S Neil Thorman is caught in an Oldham sandwich.

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Oldham 40   Gateshead 16

A PUMPED up Roughyeds avenged an earlier defeat to Gateshead by putting their promotion rivals to the sword at Sedgley Park.

Seven tries, three of them claimed by full-back Paul O’Connor, and six goals from the boot of Mick Nanyn came about as a result of a terrific all-round team display in which the opposition — who started the weekend top of the table, the heaviest scorers in National League Two — were rarely given a sniff.

That 32-18 midweek loss in the North-East earlier this month seems a long time ago now.

While Thunder were worthy winners then, this was a game Oldham, hitting the 40-point mark for the fifth time in succession, thoroughly dominated.

The pack, led by the exceptional Richard Mervill, was collectively superb in asserting control from the off and consistently made huge amounts of the hard yards.

The backs, as exemplified by O’Connor’s efforts, took their chances with clinical precision when they arrived.

And even when the visitors did threaten, a highly resolute defensive effort put paid to their hopes time and again, crucially keeping them away from bonus point territory.

Roughyeds captain Rob Roberts had alluded earlier in the week to a feeling within the squad that there was unfinished business left to settle with Gateshead.

And the way that the home side tore into the opposition right from the off indicated that this was a game Oldham wanted to win very, very badly.

After causing panic in the Gateshead rearguard with a couple of deep kicks, the Roughyeds’ application of pressure early on nearly resulted in an early try for the returning Daryl Cardiss, who was bundled into touch.

But it didn’t matter, as Neil Roden was soon on hand to score, on the occasion of his 200th appearance for the club, after spotting a gap in the defence from close range.

That came after a burst down-field from the in-form Danny Halliwell, again excellent in the second row, and Nanyn converted.

Oldham’s fine start didn’t end there. Another barnstorming run, this time from Mervill, set up the attack which almost led to a try off Roden’s grubber, hacked away under pressure by Thunder defender Robin Peers.

After then turning down the chance to add a simple two points from a penalty within range, the Roughyeds clearly felt they were on a roll. And so it proved, as James Coyle’s short pass enabled Halliwell to cleverly slide through a gap on the right, with Nanyn adding the extra two.

Dave Woods’ side felt their way back into the game and went close on chasing a kick in the top right corner, but were soon on the back foot again as the half-hour approached.

This time there was a spot of good fortune involved. Roden appeared to have knocked on earlier in the move which led to O’Connor sliding across on the left, and the Gateshead bench certainly weren’t enamoured with the decision to play on.

Happier times followed for the visitors when Ben McAlpine broke Craig Littler’s tackle 10 metres from his own line, before surging to the left touchline and brilliantly outpacing three Oldham defenders to claim Gateshead’s first try, which was superbly converted by Dan Russell.

But the respite was brief. Nanyn released Lucas Onyango down the wing and though the Kenyan couldn’t outstrip full-back Stuart Kain, he unloaded the ball inside — albeit on the ground — and Matty Brooks was quick enough to keep up with play, hacking on and touching down to the clear delight of his team-mates. It was a crucial score, four minutes before the break.

The game continued in the same vein after the interval, with more severe pressure exerted on a Gateshead side whose resolve, and discipline, was starting to waver.

Centre Kevin Neighbour was sent to the sin bin for holding down Halliwell after another superb 60-metre burst, and this time Nanyn did the honours from the penalty.

The Roughyeds took advantage of the fact they were a man up, with O’Connor bouncing off a tackle to dive over from dummy half.

Coyle then went on report for an alleged lift in the tackle and as referee Dave Merrick continually penalised the Roughyeds at the start of the half, Gateshead took advantage with Neil Thorman scrambling over from close to the line.

At 28-10, that unconverted score brought his side closer to a bonus point.

But O’Connor then shot in to complete his treble off a short inside pass from Roden. Nanyn converted, and to rub salt in the wound second row Dylan Nash was sent to the bin for showing dissent.

With 10 minutes left, Oldham went in again with Roberts benefiting from quick hands and a neat inside ball from Jason Boults.

Roden was then shown a yellow card for not clearing the play-the-ball area quickly enough, and Thunder came up with the last try of the match when Kain’s offload found McAlpine.

Russell’s kick was a belter. But while the same foot had denied the Roughyeds a consolation point in the last meeting, this time it bore far less significance.




Deakin hails ‘professional’ performance



STEVE Deakin was delighted with the way his team went about their task against the former National League Two leaders at Sedgley Park.



Sore from defeat in the north-east earlier this month, the Roughyeds’ high energy approach from the off, allied to a well-executed game plan, helped put the record straight — ending Gateshead’s nine-match unbeaten run in the process.

“We have had one eye on this game for a long time,” said the Roughyeds coach.

“Our execution was very good, we were physical with them, and we did a really professional job on them.

“We started quickly. One thing Gateshead are is a massively enthusiastic team and what we had to do was not only match but out-last their enthusiasm.

“We felt they are a little bit tight defensively. The game plan was to go ‘out the back’ early, get them to slide across and then hit the short leads.

“At half-time we said that inside plays would kill them, as they were just sliding over in defence, and we scored two tries that way in the second half.

“The boys did a great job of reading what their defence was doing today. Our kicking game was good and we were so committed both sides of the ball — we were outstanding.’

Deakin was also pleased to have achieved a similar feat which Gateshead themselves managed in the corresponding fixture, denying the opposition the ‘second prize’ of a consolatory point.

“They are top of the league and we have beaten them 40-16,” Deakin added.

“They are going away with their tail between their legs and also without a bonus point.

“It certainly does our points difference no harm, either.

“Revenge isn’t a word I like to use. But we have squared up the count now.

We came away from the Gateshead game up at their place beaten by a better team on the day and we didn’t get a bonus point.

“But we evened the score up and the scoreline reflects the difference between the teams on the day.”