Roughyeds overpower Barrow in Boundary Park shoot-out

New signings Ryan Brierley and Jack Ormondroyd scored debut tries as Oldham consolidated fourth spot in the Betfred Championship with an entertaining 44-30 win over Barrow.

Roughyeds ran in seven tries, including two from winger Kieran Dixon, but Barrow refused to lie down in what was a spirited display to mark head coach Paul Crarey's club record 350th game in charge.

"We spoke during the week about just getting the two points and getting back on track so I am pleased to do that, even though I'm not impressed about conceding 30 points," Oldham head coach Sean Long told Roughyeds TV.

"I thought we were really patient and our defence was really good.

"We showed resilience, but we do need to tidy up a few things."

Long handed starts to both new recruits from crisis-hit Salford Red Devils, but suffered a blow just before kick-off when winger Mo Agoro pulled up injured and Mathieu Pons was drafted in.

And the hosts were on the back foot early when Barrow pressure yielded a deserved try, Ellis Robson crashing over after the Raiders had regained possession with a strip on Ryan Lannon.

But from 6-0 down the Roughyeds' response was electric.

Dixon produced a try-of-the-season contender with a phenomenal long-range effort, and Brierley took a pass from Josh Drinkwater after an Adam Milner break for his first try in Oldham colours, with Dixon converting both for a 12-6 lead.

Against the run of play Barrow hit back, an Oldham knock-on allowed a Barrow scrum in a dangerous position and the influential Ryan Johnston caught the hosts cold with a score straight from it.

From 12-12 Oldham went up a gear.

Pons finished off in the corner after a lovely left-to-right move involving Brierley, and Ben O'Keefe grabbed a try in the same corner after Barrow threw an ill-advised pass in their own 10m zone.

Dixon's kick appeared to drift wide but was given, for a 22-12 half-time lead.

The home advantage was stretched further when Lewis Baxter powered over from a short Eloi Pelissier pass, and Dixon grabbed his second after a brilliant break from Ben Davies, just seconds after Davies had denied Barrow a try at the other end.

36-12 looked like game over but Barrow found two more tries in as many minutes from former Salford man Joe Bullock and a fine second for Johnston on the kick return, narrowing the gap again to 36-24.

A Dixon penalty nudged Oldham back into a three-score lead at 38-24, but Barrow found another try through Luke Broadbent in the corner to trail by just eight.

Roughyeds had the final say though, with a rampaging debut try from Ormondroyd thrilling the Joe Royle Stand to seal the win.

"Barrow are a good team, a dangerous side and I felt we got caught out early in the game. We weren't switched on and they caught us napping," said Long.

"I thought Jack was good and Ryan was really good.

"The more we gave Ryan the ball he is pretty much on the end of every try.

"Jack's contact was good and he scored a great try."

For a head coach so proud of his defence, the scoreline will be a concern for Long ahead of trips to Batley and London, but his side once again showed an electric attacking flair capable of destroying any team in the Championship.

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