Hewitt hits a high note

WE DID IT!: David Hewitt scored a crucial try (inset, bottom) and celebrated in style (main, left), while George Tyson caught up with his man during Oldham’s terrific comeback victory over Barrow. PICTURES by TIM BRADLEY

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OLDHAM 28, BARROW RAIDERS 12

FOR more than an hour he waited patiently for the opportunity to pounce.

Then quick as a flash, David Hewitt spotted daylight, ran at Barrow’s defensive line, mesmerised four defenders and ghosted through to score by the posts and register his fifth try in five games.

With only 11 minutes remaining, it put League One leaders Oldham in front for the first time after a massive effort by Barrow to end Roughyeds’ run of 10 wins.

It was a match-winner, a try of pure class by the loan teenager from St Helens. And it was scored when Oldham were desperate to get their noses in front.

Said Hewitt: “Our pack came out for the second half with all guns blazing and Barrow’s forwards started to tire after taking a pounding for 20 minutes. On defence they began to leave a bit of space so when I saw some I went for it.”

His super, solo effort busted Barrow’s resistance, after which Oldham scored another two converted tries in the closing stages to rack up 18 points without reply in the final 11 minutes.

Not for the first time, the score didn’t reflect Barrow’s contribution to a hard-fought thriller; but that’s what happens when you’ve got an outfit like this super-fit Oldham side.

Roughyeds were rattled in the first half. They had planned to get off to a flier but Barrow had other ideas as they went 12-0 inside 16 minutes. George Tyson, Adam Neal, Josh Crowley, Lewis Palfrey, Hewitt, Danny Langtree and Richard Lepori all made costly mistakes as the visitors got on top.

Barrow were up for a scrap and once their forwards started to get the upper hand Peter Lupton and Liam Campbell troubled Roughyeds with good, tactical kicking.

When the heavens opened, both sides struggled with handling and Oldham suffered another setback when prop Neal was sin-binned for a high tackle.

Naylor’s men then had to dig in and see out the remaining seven minutes of a gruelling first half. Not content with that, they went all out to pull something back and Michael Ward drove for the posts, stopping just short. Oldham attacked left through Hewitt, whose slick pass to Tom Ashton enabled the strong-running centre to score in the corner. Lewis Palfrey missed the conversion but Oldham were on the scoresheet.

Ward and Josh Crowley were the pick of Oldham’s forwards in the first half and they would have to resume where they left off if the home side, now to play up the slope, was to turn things round in the second 40.

Oldham kept a clean sheet in the second half while rattling up 24 points to add to their four in the first half - a title-chasing turnaround if ever there was one. Ward, who scored two second-half tries, was outstanding in his desire to drive Oldham forward and it was no surprise he was name club man of the match.

His first try, which cut Barrow’s lead to 12-10, took some scoring. Oldham were lifted by it and went roaring in for the kill, threatening several times before Hewitt worked his magic for a 16-12 lead.

Barrow visibly wilted after that and started to concede penalties as they tired, while Roughyeds rammed home their advantage.