Rochdale defeat increases gloom

FIRST TRY: Dan Smith gets over the line for Oldham

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WITH a maximum five 'imports' on board, Oldham were soon 18 points down in the Rochdale derby and, try as they might, they couldn't claw it back.

They got close at 18-20 and later at 24-30, but Kevin Penny's second try nine minutes from time clinched a deserved win for Hornets, who had more guile, more flair, more offloads and more options when they had the ball in good attacking positions.

Six tries to four tells a tale in itself and the six included the game's best two, scored in the last 20 minutes by full-back Declan Kay and right-wing Penny after slick handling and razor-sharp backing-up.

BRACE

They each scored a brace, benefitting in the main from Lewis Foster's creativity at stand-off, Ben Moores' clever work around the ruck and the way in which forwards Joe Taira and Jono Smith, in particular, were able to get the ball away in the tackle.

Oldham lacked nothing in determination and desire and in Adam Clay, George Tyson and Michael Ward they had three of the most penetrative players on the pitch.

Clay and Tyson each got on the scoresheet, while Ward lost control of the ball when going under the sticks, but made amends later by bursting on to Leatherbarrow's pass at speed and putting Dave Hewitt over.

Scott Naylor's men looked in big trouble when Penny, Kay and centre Jake Eccleston scored converted tries early on, but they rallied impressively to score three of their own by Dan Smith, Clay and Hewitt either side of half-time.

At that stage, trailing 18-20, Roughyeds threatened to get on top, but it all changed when young Connor Williams failed to defuse Foster's bomb to the corner and Jordan Case pounced to score.

After that both sides went close before Anthony Walker and Foster set up Kay's second try, which Yates goaled for a 30-18 lead.

Tyson kept never-say-die Oldham in it when touching down Leatherbarrow's grubber, but Penny finished the scoring as he had started it as Hornets began to expose frailties in a tiring Roughyeds defence.

Following incidents and dismissals in previous derby clashes this season it was expected to be a full-on, feisty affair.

In the circumstances the discipline of both sides was good, although Oldham's Tyson and Moores of Rochdale were sin-binned in the 27th minute for fighting in a touchline bust-up involving players of both sides.

Sammy Gee bundled Josh Crowley into touch. Crowley reacted and in seconds several players of both sides were locked in a 'handbags' situation, with Tyson and Moores in the thick of it.

The penalty went to Oldham and a few moments later, after another spot of squaring-up, both captains were called out for a talk by referee Gareth Hewer, whose experience and know-how kept a lid on a potentially explosive situation.

BATTLES

Hornets have taken five points out of six on offer so far this year in these derby battles, not to mention a pre-season Law Cup clash at Bower Fold which they won in January.

Oldham are back in the bottom two and fighting for survival with seven Shield games to go - three of them at Bower Fold.

They were strong and solid defensively in the middle part of the game, but early on and again near the end they were all at sea. There was little they could do to stop Penny once he got his hands on the interception, however.

The former Warrington speed merchant has scored lots of interception tries and once he had burst on to Hewitt's wide pass it was all over.

More could have been done to prevent Jono Smith's off-load, which provided a gift try for Kay; and Eccleston must still be wondering how it was so easy for his hooker, Moores, to go clear from dummy half before putting in a kick for the corner, which Eccleston touched down,

A quick play-the-ball caught Oldham napping and Moores was off like a shot from the back of the ruck, going clear without a finger laid on him.

The fightback was started when Dan Smith crashed in on a Kenny Hughes pass to score a try which Leatherbarrow improved.

CHARGE

Smith and Ben Davies were strong front-row men for Oldham, helping Ward to lead the charge in the run-up to half-time.

A serious comeback looked 'on' when Clay scored a second Oldham try after Leatherbarrow's high kick to the corner.

But it was typical of Roughyeds in recent weeks that, with only two minutes to half time, they had a lapse in concentration when facing Foster's restart kick.

They allowed it to bounce, after which Hornets retrieved possession, Oldham were penalised for holding down and Yates landed an easy goal - an absolute gift on the stroke of half time.

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