Depleted Oldham beaten again

Oldham RL head coach Scott Naylor

Injury-hit Oldham slipped to their third defeat in four games when beaten 15-8 at Keighley.

They scored what was to be their only try in the 14th minute when Luke Hooley linked with Lee Kershaw and took the winger's return pass to go over.

Paul Crook landed the goal from wide out and on a brown, rock-hard surface, but the 6-0 lead wasn't to last long.

Cougars were on level terms in the 23rd minute when Mike Emmett crashed over from close in on a flat ball from dummy half.

Benn Hardcastle squared things up with the conversion and then took the game by the scruff of the neck to land a drop goal and four second-half penalties as Cougars dominated the second period.

A Crook penalty goal from inside the Oldham half after the hooter had gone for half-time gave Roughyeds an 8-7 interval lead, but they rarely looked like scoring another try, whereas Cougars spent most of the second half on the attack and took advantage of every penalty to slowly pull away.

Oldham's performance was poor, full of errors and seemingly lacking the spirit and self-belief that was needed to overcome a very determined and resolute home side.