Stirring Rochdale fightback stuns Roughyeds

Oldham went down 50-24 against Rochdale at the Vestacare Stadium

In sizzling hot conditions, Oldham RLFC led 24-6 at half-time in their derby against Rochdale Hornets, before then conceding 44 second-half points without reply to go down 24-50 at the Vestacare Stadium.

Having scored first-half tries by Jordan Andrade, Liam Copland, Calvin Wellington and on-loan Johnny Openshaw, all converted by Martyn Ridyard, Roughyeds looked set fair to bounce back from a 62-0 defeat at Keighley last time out and get the better of a Hornets side sitting joint second in the Betfred League One placings.

However, it wasn’t to be.

Hornets got a firm grip on the game in the second half to run out comfortable winners with second-half tries by Lewis Sheridan, Ben Calland, Fenton Rogers (2), Rangi Chase (2), Ben O’Keefe and Gavin Bennion.

Add Chase’s brace to his solitary Hornets try in the first half and it gave the classy Kiwi a hat-trick.

Oldham: Restall; Copland, Wellington, Carr, Hartley; Ridyard, Slater; Nelmes, Yarrow, Spencer, Windrow, Cameron, Whittel. Subs: Openshaw, Thornton, Andrade, Newton.

Roughyeds are at home again this Sunday when Doncaster visit.

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