Owens helps dominant Eagles to take flight

SQUEEZING HOME . . . Kenny Hughes bags Oldham's third try

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OLDHAM succumbed to the Jack Owens show as the Sheffield Eagles ran out comfortable winners at the Beaumont Legal Stadium.

Owens ran the show from start to finish for the Eagles, scoring a try and eight goals as Oldham were defeated in their opening Championship Shield clash.

The Roughyeds now have just one win from their last 13 games.

A key spell midway through the first half saw the Eagles score three tries in five minutes effectively ruled Oldham out of winning the game, but a spirited fightback from the visitors inspired by Matthew Wilkinson late in the first half gave them hope of coming away with the two points.

CORNER

Sheffield took the lead in the seventh minute, a shortside play allowing Paddy Flynn to score in the right corner. Owens missed the conversion attempt from the touchline.

The Eagles extended their lead ten minutes later as Owens broke through the Oldham line before offloading to the supporting Sam Scott who scored down the left edge. Owens converted to give the hosts a ten-point-lead.

From the re-start the Eagles were in again, Millar broke up the middle of Oldham's defence and offloaded to the supporting Minchella who touched down under the posts, Owens adding the simple conversion.

Sheffield went 22-0 in the 23rd minute, Sam Scott going close down the left before Matty Fozard picked up and darted over from short range. Owens again added the goal.

Oldham rang the changes and they paid off with Matthew Wilkinson coming onto the field. The replacement hooker made an almost instant impact with a pick up and dive over score down the right edge in the 35th minute after Sheffield had piggy backed their visitors down field thanks to two penalties. Luke Hooley missed the relatively simple conversion attempt but Oldham were on the board.

From the restart, Oldham were in again, a break down field and support from Wilkinson saw the ball find its way to Dave Hewitt, the Oldham half dummied left before stepping right and dancing his way through some static Sheffield defence to score to the left of the posts. Hooley was on target this time around and took the sides to half time at 22-10.

After the break Sheffield were on fire, benefitting from some poor handling from Oldham and on 51 minutes, the Eagles were over again, Owen's wide pass to Flynn seeing the winger go over for his second try of the game. Owens missed the conversion from the touchline.

Oldham didn't touch the ball before the Eagles were over again, a short Kyle Trout ball to Scott Wheeldon saw the Eagles extend their lead, Owen's conversion taking the score to 38-10.

The visitors' day didn't get any better in the 58th minute, Ben Davies being sent to the sin-bin for a shoulder charge off the ball on Elliott Minchella.

Minchella managed to get up off the ground and play-on, and the next minute was over for his second try of the game, supporting Owens down the right to touch down under the posts for Sheffield's eighth try of the game. Owens converted to take the score to 44-10.

With seven minutes left, Sheffield brought up the half century, Matty Fozard dummying through the Oldham defence to score down the right edge with Owen's added his seventh goal of the game.

Oldham did score a consolation effort with four minutes remaining, Kenny Hughes diving over from short range to score under the posts. Hooley added the conversion to take the score to 50-16.

There was just time in the dying seconds for Sheffield to score their tenth try of the game, with Michella touching down.