Page 55 - Oldham Evening Chronicle - September 2022

SEPTEMBER 2022 www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk 31
Sport

Play-off heartache for gutsy Roughyeds

By Roger Halstead

HAVING come from nowhere to storm into
the Betfred League One play-offs with five
wins in their last seven games of the regular
season, scoring 223 points against 136 into
the bargain, Roughyeds found the Rochdale
derby one game too many in the Play-Off
Eliminator at the Crown Oil Arena.
Hornets won 38-24 to earn a next-hurdle
crack at North Wales Crusaders, but it was
anyone’s game for long periods, as shown
by the fact that the lead changed hands five
times.
The home side took the game away from
Oldham in 15 second-half minutes when they
scored tries by Greg McNally, Connor Aspey,
Rangi Chase and Gavin Bennion between the
53rd and 68th minutes.
Oldham were ahead at 6-0, 12-10 and, in
the second half, at 20-14, but credit Hornets
for their dynamic, determined and ultimately
decisive fightback in which their forwards
took control to provide the platform from
which half-backs Chase and on-loan Kieran
Rush did most of the damage.
Scoring tries for Oldham were Joe Hartley
(two), Owen Restall and Kian Morgan, while
Martyn Ridyard added three conversions and
a penalty.
Is the season over for Oldham Kevin Sinfield throws

Rugby League Club? his support behind

By Roger Halstead charity bowls match

THE Roughyeds’ 38-24 defeat by derby
rivals Rochdale Hornets in a Betfred League
One Play-Off Eliminator at the Crown Oil RUGBY League legend Kevin Sinfield
Arena meant two things . . . the end of the was a guest at North Chadderton Social
road for Roughyeds until the start of next and Bowling Club on Tuesday evening
season and, if the structure remains the same, for a star-studded bowls comp, proceeds
another season in tier three. from which will go towards the Motor
I say ‘if’ because this particular close- Neurone Disease Walkathon Charity,
season throws up more questions than organised by top Midlands bowler Lynn
answers. Pritchatt.
For instance, will there be a restructure of Locally, the big question is: where will Lynn, who lost her long-time partner
the divisions? Oldham be playing next season? Will it still Mel Evans MBE to MND in 2017, has
What will IMG, one of the world’s largest be at the Vestacare Stadium or will it be since devoted a lot of time to raising
marketing organisations come up with somewhere else… maybe at Boundary Park? much-needed funds for MND research.
when they put their proposals to the sport’s Rumours of a return to BP, following Frank’s She was inspired by the heroic efforts
powers-that-be? big rescue act, are rife, but Roughyeds are of local ex-rugby league star Sinfield,
Will the thorny issue of central funding saying “nowt”, as Frank might say, so we who has raised huge sums of money for
become even more acute for clubs like will have to wait and see. MND.
Oldham in tier three than it is now? The same applies to players. The Roughyeds A former Leeds Rhinos and Great
The RFL and Super League Europe have policy is to wait until contracts are signed and Britain player, Sinfield was deeply
jumped into bed with IMG in a bid to get sealed before they make announcements and affected when his close friend and team
a totally independent and experienced view that policy, which applies equally to signings mate Rob Burrow was struck down by
from marketing experts about where Rugby and other matters, has stood the club in good MND and he has raised more than £2m
League should be heading in the years ahead. stead for the past 25 years. It isn’t going to for research by a series of marathon runs
Founded in 1960 with a single deal that change now. and an epic run from Leicester to Leeds
would prove the advent of modern-day sports The one thing we do know is that head coach which earned him national headlines and
marketing, IMG is now a global leader in Stu Littler will be back next season. Not only exposure.
sports, events, media and fashion, operating are he and club chairman Chris Hamilton on ‘Sinny’ had agreed to lend his support
in more than 30 countries. The company the same wavelength professionally, but they by attending the bowls event at North
represents and manages some of the world’s have similar ideas on continuity, longevity Chadderton in the hope that a lot of rugby
greatest sports figures and fashion icons, and consistency of purpose. league fans will take the opportunity to
stages hundreds of live events and is one of What’s more, Littler’s two-year deal has perhaps support the MND charity.
the world’s largest independent producers another season to run. The specially-arranged bowling
and distributors of sports media. As for season one, he and the players match was a ten-a-side comp featuring
Fans, players, coaches and other targeted a play-off finish and by winning Greater Manchester Legends v Greater
stakeholders have been filling in a questions- five of their last seven matches of the regular Manchester Young Guns.
and-answers sheet about their views, habits season they achieved that even if the play- The event was held last night and they
etc regarding the sport and we await the off challenge at Rochdale proved one game raised about £1000.
initiative’s findings with interest. too far.