Magnificent Oldham stun rugby world

Photo: Dave Murgatroyd

Richard Lepori pounces at the death to add gloss to Oldham's historic victory at the Lightstream Stadium

ALMOST 48 hours after their incredible Challenge Cup exploits over Hull KR, Oldham can be forgiven for remaining in dream-land today.

Saturday’s success over the full-time Super League outfit — last year’s Challenge Cup finalists — undoubtedly goes down as one of the club’s greatest-ever days and the finest since their reformation almost 20 years ago.

Scenes of jubilation akin to that of lifting the eventual trophy filled the clutch of Oldham fans in the away terraces at the Lightstream Stadium.

Quite simply, it was an ‘I was there’ moment as the Roughyeds rocked the Robins.

proud

The darkest hours of 1997, when the club fell into a multi-million bankruptcy, can almost be forgotten in these bright moments of glory. Kicking out last year’s beaten finalists, victorious coach Scott Naylor was proud as punch and rightly so.

The desire synonymous with improving Oldham over recent weeks was evident from minute one. The plucky underdogs with nothing to lose were a cut above their superior-placed opponents. for the full 80 minutes. Barring a brief KR fightback towards the end, Oldham more than matched the woeful Robins.

A near full-strength KR were embarrassed, but the afternoon truly belonged to Naylor’s heroes. Orchestrated by half-backs Lewis Palfrey and Steve Roper, Oldham dictated the fifth-round tie from the off, creating a memorable upset in east Hull.

Naylor’s side went ahead on two minutes through Will Hope, the Ireland international collecting Gareth Owen’s pin-point pass with perfection. Dane Tilse responded for the Robins when similarly barging over from close-range, but that was as good as it got for the hosts in a red-hot first half for the visitors.

Rovers couldn’t cope with the exploits of Roper, whose kick from the side of his boot confused everybody — including Tilse — for full-back Richard Lepori to pounce under the sticks. Palfrey's conversion made it 12-6 on 23 minutes, before adding another two from the boot, following consecutive indiscretions from the Robins.

KR winger Kieran Dixon, whose afternoon went from bad to worse, made a mistake in his own half and Roper himself got in on the act, spotting lackadaisical defence to punish James Webster’s side.

Roper was almost playing in a dinner suit in the first-half, and incredibly, better was to come before the break.

The ball was spread out wide and Adam Clay squeezed over to complete a sensational opening 40 for the Roughyeds.

Few could have predicted Oldham holding onto a lengthy lead, given the supposed fitness chasm between full-time and part-time line-ups, but Naylor's men found the energy to keep up for the full 80.

No doubt KR took a hammering at half-time and their response was evident, albeit short-livde. Shaun Lunt darted over from dummy-half five minutes after the restart but crucially, Rovers’ kicking boots had gone missing, with Ben Cockayne and Ken Sio both wayward from the tee.

Oldham capitalised on that factor, and the evergreen Gary Middlehurst pounced on horrendous KR goal-line defence to extend the Roughyeds’ lead to 20 points with 24 minutes left.

Expectedly, KR came back with three further scores — though all unconverted.

Maurice Blair first used his strength to power over, before young winger Joe Wardill, on his first start for the Robins, was allowed space to dive over in the right corner.

When Tilse crossed for his second, collecting Adam Walker's offload, perhaps KR sensed momentum swinging their way. How wrong they were.

Roper and Palfrey had each attempted drop-goals that were unsuccessful, but that didn’t matter as Lepori capped off a sensational afternoon when going in at the final hooter for his second of the afternoon.

Palfrey had barely booted over his final conversion before his fist pumped up into the air. The elation was marvellous to witness as the Robins were dumped out at the first time of asking.

Oldham go into Thursday morning’s draw with the belief and confidence they can go toe-to-toe with a full-time outfit. For Naylor, he'll be dreaming of another trip to top-flight team. Who says the magic of the Cup is dead?