Thunder rumbled by Oldham

Photo: -TIM BRADLEY-

TAKE-DOWN: Outstanding Oldham man Phil Joy goes to ground during his side’s big win.

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Oldham 45, Newcastle Thunder 20

RUTHLESS Oldham were back to their early-season best in putting 45 points past Stanley Gene’s re-branded and highly-rated Newcastle Thunder.

This was more like the Roughyeds outfit that won at Barrow in the iPro Sport Cup and knocked over derby rivals Rochdale Hornets at Spotland on the opening day of what promises to be a roller-coaster ride in a hugely competitive Kingstone Press League One.

More like it? On second thoughts, even better: the most complete all-round performance of the season so far, one that deserved to take Scott Naylor’s men back to the top of the league, helped by Keighley Cougars’s defeat at Swinton.

After conceding a soft try as early as the third minute, the home side played and looked like a top-of-the-table team, totally dominating an opponent that seriously fancied its chances of being the first visiting side to win a league game at Whitebank since April 2013.

Boosted by big bucks and big ambition, Thunder will have a major say in which two clubs win promotion to the Championship.

They came without their three injured PNG internationals, but still looked a strong, skilful outfit that off-loaded cleverly and moved the ball swiftly.

Trailing 28-8 at half-time, they resumed with slope and wind in their favour and caused a few flutters among the Roughyeds’ faithful when clawing their way back to 28-20 and - very briefly - looked capable of closing the gap further.

Roughyeds halted their momentum, regained the initiative and belted them with 17 unanswered points in the last 15 minutes.

With Phil Joy and Adam Neal setting the standard, Oldham’s ability to cross and move forward was awesome.

Matt Barron, Josh Stoker and new-boy Seb Martins, a huge guy and former French international, were played off the park by Oldham’s middle unit.

Gareth Owen in particular had a sensational first half-hour, scoring Oldham’s second try and being largely instrumental in setting up the first, third and fourth, all in a 15-minute spell that would have floored a lesser side.

Other magic moments — Adam Clay’s length-of-the-field try in the dying seconds which took him to his hat-trick; Steven Nield’s try-saving chase and ankle-tap on Tom Capper with Thunder 14 points behind and pressing hard; Danny Langtree’s mighty effort to stop Ali Blair in full flight and looking certain to score.

And so they went on . . . Owen’s break up the middle within seconds of him returning for his second spell; Langtree’s one-on-one steal as Oldham battled to regain the initiative in the last 20 minutes; and Lewis Palfrey’s 65th-minute try, which he also converted.

Best try of the game was Oldham’s fourth, close to half time. Hughes worked his magic from midfield and Langtree and Palfrey combined beautifully with slick passing before the supporting Nield flew over by the posts. Great stuff, on a day Roughyeds looked full value for their top-of-the-table status.