Patched-up Roughyeds defeated by Bulls

Oldham suffered their first home defeat since 2023 as Bradford Bulls ruthlessly exploited a Roughyeds injury crisis to record a 42-12 win at Boundary Park.

Brian Noble's men produced a powerful performance to run in eight tries including a hat-trick for Waqa Blake, as Sean Long's men went down to their second defeat of the Betfred Championship campaign in front of almost 2700 fans under the Friday night lights.

"I'm disappointed with the loss but really proud of the lads and how they went about their business especially in the second half at 26-6 down," Long told Roughyeds TV.

"That is definitely not what I want my team to look like.

"We missed quality out there and we missed the leaders, but I can't fault the lads who played in different positions when it wasn't ideal".

Already missing key men including vice-captain Matty Wildie, winger Kieran Dixon, centre Jumah Sambou and forward Elijah Taylor, Long suffered a quadruple setback late in the week when Iain Thornley, Matty Ashurst, Adam Milner and Mo Agoro were all ruled out despite having been named in the initial squad.

That left a bare 17 that included Waterhead teenager Marcus Geener for his competitive Oldham debut, half-back Danny Craven on the wing and forward George Hirst at centre.

Yet Oldham came roaring out of the blocks in front of a vocal crowd through the pre-match pyrotechnics and scored first through Craven.

Bradford were the architects of their own downfall as Luke Hooley sent the kick-off out on the full, Josh Drinkwater kicked the penalty deep into Bulls territory and Craven finished a slick move in the left corner.

Drinkwater failed to convert but Oldham had the perfect start at 4-0.

From then on it was one-way traffic as Bradford's size and power saw the visitors dominate possession and territory.

Half-back Jordan Lilley levelled the scores as he finished off a flowing move from one end of the pitch to the other, before winger Guy Armitage dived over to give the Bulls an 8-4 lead.

Drinkwater stemmed the flow of points with a penalty but Oldham were soon on the back foot once more.

Bradford targeted makeshift winger Craven as he was dwarfed by giant opposite number Jayden Okunbor, and high kicks on the last tackle led to Bradford taking full control.

Blake grabbed his first try after Craven was beaten in the air and soon added another from Lilley's smart low kick into the corner.

Craven was then targeted in the air again before the break as Zac Fulton scored a fifth Bulls try from Okunbor's tap back for a 26-6 half-time lead.

Oldham could count themselves unlucky on at least one occasion, as referee Cameron Worsley pulled play back for a Roughyeds penalty rather than allowing advantage that would have led to a Riley Dean try under the posts.

Bradford scored again right after half-time as the influential Lilley threw a huge dummy to dance under the posts for his second before Blake grabbed his hat-trick from another high kick aimed at Craven.

Oldham then produced their best rugby of the match as Chapelhow was denied over the line and Bailey Aldridge scored arguably the try of the game from a brilliant PLT break, Adam Lawton providing the support and pass in an 80-minute performance from the giant forward.

Bradford did cross once more before the final hooter as Okunbor touched down to complete a memorable night for the visitors who pull level on point with Oldham in the table.

This was a humbling night for a depleted Oldham side who will undoubtedly emerge stronger from the setback, but ultimately had no answer to Bradford's size and power.

"We definitely found the blueprint of how to play against Bradford," said Long.

"It is just doing it consistently over 80 minutes.

"Frustrated is a good word for how I feel but I am happy with the lads for battling to the end.

"There was no white flag out there and we have to dust ourselves down and hopefully get some troops back for next week."

Oldham are away at Doncaster next Sunday before two huge home games against Toulouse and Featherstone in the 1895 Cup semi-final at Boundary Park.

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