Roughyeds are simply the best

Photo: Darren Robinson

OH YES INDEED . . . Lewis Palfrey parades the silverware as the jubilant Oldham players celebrate promotion from League One.

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WITH the new Kingstone Press Championship season now barely a month away, we figured it was an ideal time to take a look back at a dream 2015 League One season for Oldham RL.

We’ve picked the highlights of every match and recall some of what the men at the helm – head coach Scott Naylor and chairman Chris Hamilton – had to say.

It was a roller-coaster ride of emotions, ending with sheer elation on September 20 when Oldham finally won their long-awaited dream promotion back to the second tier, courtesy of a well-deserved win against Keighley Cougars.



April 3 – Rochdale 16, Oldham 23.

THE opening day of the Kingstone Press League One campaign saw Oldham lap up derby delight at Spotland as Rochdale were defeated 23-16. Roughyeds got off to a flying start, but only after roaring back from a 14-12 deficit at half-time. The highlight was a scintillating try from Lewis Palfrey, expertly manufactured by the exciting centre-wing right-flank pairing of George Tyson and Adam Clay.



April 12 – Oldham 38, Coventry 10.

OLDHAM made light work of Coventry on a day when Tom Ashton, Richard Joy and Tom Dempsey all made their debuts. The Roughyeds overcame dreadful weather as they stormed to victory in their third game in 10 days. “In weather like this, it’s all about getting the right result,” said Scott Naylor.



April 19 – South Wales 12, Oldham 50.

SCOTT Naylor’s men scored 10 tries in a workmanlike victory on the site of the former Mountain Ash colliery. Scorpions tried hard and never once surrendered, but they were simply over-run by the strength of Oldham’s forwards. Naylor said: “We played with efficiency, scored some nice tries and played some attractive rugby.”


April 26 – Oldham 48, London Skolars 6.

OLDHAM did enough to comfortably strengthen their grip on League One’s top spot after securing a fourth win from four games. The Skolars were smashed in a nine-try romp at Whitebank. Jon Ford bagged a hat-trick, while George Tyson went over twice.


May 3 – Oldham 33, Gloucester All Golds 30.

STEVE Nield’s hat-trick was the major plus as Oldham staggered unconvincingly over the winning line against the All Golds. Nield was neat and tidy on the right wing, twice finishing with aplomb in the corner, while 18-year-old Tom Dempsey was the star man thanks to two try assists and a brilliant try-saving tackle.


May 9 – Barrow Raiders 30, Oldham 18.

A CRACKING game of fierce, unrelenting rugby ended with a touchline brawl in the dying seconds and red cards for Oldham hooker Gareth Owen and Barrow’s Liam Campbell. The Craven Park clash was dominated by big men from both sides. Adam Clay touched down twice for the visitors, who suffered their first defeat of the season.


May 17 – Oldham 45, Newcastle Thunder 20.

OLDHAM returned to the top of League One as they were back to their early-season best in blitzing Newcastle. Adam Clay scored a hat-trick of tries at Whitebank as the hosts were ruthless.


May 31 – Keighley Cougars 32, Oldham 24.

KEIGHLEY veterans Paul March and Paul Handforth ran the show at Cougar Park as Oldham were outfoxed. Thirty three-year-old scrum half Handforth had a blinder, while player-coach March (35) played at hooker and scored after only three minutes. “The lads are bitterly disappointed, but only they can put it right,” said Naylor.


June 7 – Oldham 28, North Wales 38.

FOUR Crusaders tries in 13 minutes at the back end of the first half condemned Oldham to a third defeat. The Roughyeds went in at half-time 28-10 behind, and though they significantly upped the tempo after the restart, the damage had been done. Josh Crowley scored a brace of tries for Oldham.


June 14 – Oldham 64, Oxford 0.

RAMPANT Oldham scored 12 tries as their expansive rugby proved far too much for poor old Oxford to handle. Left-winger Jack Holmes bagged a hat-trick, while right-winger Adam Clay added two more tries and all-action centre George Tyson also went over to register a couple of beauties.


June 21 – Swinton 26, Oldham 32.

BRISTLING with energy, drive and self-belief, Oldham became the first side during the season to tame the Lions in their own Sedgley Park den. They did it with a brilliant first-half effort in which the forwards annihilated Swinton. George Tyson scored two tries, while prop Adam Neal won the star man honours.


June 27 – Gloucester All Golds 30, Oldham 42.

ON-loan teenager David Hewitt capped an impressive Oldham debut with two tries, a 40-20 and plenty of slick distribution.

Adam Clay also touched down twice as the Roughyeds scraped home, avoiding a potential banana skin in their charge for promotion. “We were patient and gradually got on top,” said Naylor.


July 5 – Oldham 34, York 12.

TRAILING 12-6 at the interval, Oldham rolled up their sleeves for the second half and smashed a very good York side into submission. Forward Michael Ward led the charge with a superb try-scoring display. His tremendous surges put Naylor’s men on top in the second half.


July 12 – Oldham 38, Rochdale Hornets 18.

DERBY rivals Rochdale were blown away in the second half by an Oldham side looking increasingly capable of matching anything League One could throw at it. The Hornets led 18-14 early in the second half at Whitebank, before Scott Naylor’s men piled up 24 unanswered points. “We’re playing a good brand of rugby,” said the Oldham coach.


July 19 – London Skolars 6, Oldham 32.

DESPITE having to contend with a swirling wind and an artificial pitch, Oldham did enough at the New Rivers Stadium. Captain Lewis Palfrey maintained his place at the top of the division’s goals and points chart by accumulating half of his team’s points with four conversions and two tries. Michael Ward also bagged a brace of tries.


July 26 – North Wales 6, Oldham 23.

OLDHAM made it seven straight wins with an all-round team performance that was clinical in its execution and masterful in its delivery. The visitors inflicted the Crusaders’ biggest loss of the season and halted the hosts’ own fine match-winning streak. “This has to be one of the happiest and most fulfilling moments since I arrived at the club,” beamed Naylor afterwards.


August 2 – Oldham 38, Keighley Cougars 8.

OLDHAM bagged their eighth victory on the spin thanks a stellar performance against one of their chief rivals for promotion. We said: “Did Oldham look like champions-elect? You bet they did. Promotion material? Without a shadow of a doubt.” Sam Gee, Richard Lepori, Jack Holmes, Lewis Palfrey, Danny Langtree and Liam Thompson touched down to sink the Cougars.


August 9 – Hemel Stags 6, Oldham 70.

LEWIS Palfrey pocketed 34 points as Oldham ran riot to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the table. Palfrey’s three tries and 11 goals equalled the all-time club record for most points in a single game.


August 16 – Newcastle Thunder 16, Oldham 28.

IT proved to be a slog on the Tyne for Oldham as they battled to maintain their top spot. Jon Ford went over for a couple of tries while skipper Lewis Palfrey’s important four goals helped to keep the visitors’ noses in front in a tight encounter.


August 23 – Oldham 28, Barrow Raiders 12.

DAVID Hewitt’s brilliant try finally broke Barrow’s resistance as Oldham had to come back from a 12-4 half-time deficit at Home. That score came with only 11 minutes to go and handed the hosts the lead for the first time, following a herculean effort from the Raiders.


September 6 – Oldham 28, Swinton 16.

THE Roughyeds again played exhilarating rugby against fourth-placed Lions even without suspended duo Adam Neal and Sammy Gee. Danny Langtree bagged two second-half tries as Oldham welcomed its biggest home crowd – 1,004 – in two years.


September 13 – Oxford 12, Oldham 76.

OLDHAM won the league leader’s shield with a 13-try walloping of Oxford. To end the regular campaign in such blistering fashion was testament to the team’s strength of character. Josh Crowley, Will Hope and Adam Files each scored two tries.


September 20 – Oldham 31, Keighley 20.

AND there it is: Oldham’s promotion dream was realised in front of a near-1,500 crowd at Whitebank.

The hosts were in charge pretty much throughout the 80 minutes, with Jon Ford, Adam Neal, Danny Langtree, George Tyson and Adam Clay registering tries.