Demob-happy after job done

RUNNING IN . . . Kieran Gill puts Oldham's second try on the board

OLDHAM were mentally and physically drained after burning up every ounce of energy in their "cup final" against Whitehaven last week.

You got the feeling then, watching players and fans celebrating Kingstone Press Championship survival in the first season up, that the job was effectively done; that it was time to down tools, clock out, switch off the lights and go home.

Oldham could proudly boast, as indeed they did, that it was Mission Accomplished.

So how do you replicate similar passion and intensity seven days later in a match of little importance at the end of a long, demanding and exhausting campaign?

Simple. You don't. You can't.

Try as they might, Roughyeds couldn't conceal that they were demob-happy, going through the motions of playing out the season's last rites in the knowledge that win, lose or draw there was little tangible difference except in the size of their wage packet.

Dewsbury, on the other hand, needed to win to make mathematically certain of qualifying for the top four of the bottom eight, if you get the gist.

This was their must-win game against opponents who could hardly be blamed if hearts and minds were already straying to long, lazy weekends or close-season trips to distant shores.

It showed, too. The Rams ran harder, tackled with more venom at close quarters and generally defended with more purpose for the full 80 minutes. They were worthy winners.

In fairness, little went right for an Oldham squad that, in keeping with this season's fluctuating fortunes, hurtled to the bottom of the Big Dipper after climbing to its summit seven days earlier.

With Danny Langtree and Danny Grimshaw joining Craig Briscoe and Sammy Gee on the casualty list, Gary Middlehurst had to be moved out to centre.

Jack Spencer, Liam Thompson, still carrying a shoulder injury, and Michael Ward formed a new back-row triumvirate, although Ward has best been used all season as an impact prop coming off the bench.

Scott Turner kept his place at full-back after a man-of-the-match performance against Whitehaven and Richard Lepori returned from suspension on the bench.

The plan was to use him as a replacement loose-forward and get him running at the Rams big forwards when they began to tire.

It never happened because as early as the 15th minute Turner was concussed and badly shaken up in a heavy tackle, so Lepori replaced him at the back, leaving the side one sub down in the bargain.

About the same time Middlehurst had a dislocated finger put back into place on the touchline and then Kieran Gill needed running repairs on the hand that was broken before he arrived from Castleford Tigers in mid-season.

The young centre played on and finished the game, but with only one strong hand he was struggling when trying to tackle one-on-one.

It was nip and tuck for the opening quarter, but the Rams forwards always made good ground and got in quick play-the-balls, which eventually began to drain Oldham's energy and open up gaps.

Midway through the half Lepori was called upon to make two try-saving tackles in quick succession, the second one earning him a yellow card for holding down with Roughyeds scrambling desperately to re-form a defensive line.

It was while he was off for 10 minutes that Dewsbury scored the first two of their five tries.

Their forwards pulled Roughyeds into the middle before moving the ball wide to 12-man Oldham's right side where Etu Uaisele and Jason Crookes both scored in the corner on wide, cut-out passes.

They were good, well-worked tries and with a man short Oldham could do little to prevent them.

The third try, just before half-time, was a shocker to concede with both sides fumbling and making handling errors before Andy Kain was allowed to hack-on and secure the touch-down.

For a short spell early in the second half, Oldham were on top but, typically, they mishandled and Rams went straight down to the other end and scored.

Before that, Kenny Hughes worked his magic from behind play-the-ball to score under the sticks. Lewis Palfrey goaled to cut back the deficit to 16-6 and then struck a superb 40-20 to maintain the pressure.

Another score at that stage and Roughyeds would have been roaring, but direct from the 40-20 scrum, Middlehurst dropped a pass and Rams scored at the other end with Lucas Walshaw going over.

As Rams pushed home their advantage, they stretched their lead to 26-6 with two penalty goals and then capitalised on more sloppy work by the visitors at the back of the pack.

This time centre Grady got outside Gill to score, before Oldham grabbed a consolation when Dave Hewitt's kick to the corner was gathered in by Gill, who went over.

Lepori goaled in the absence of Palfrey who had left the field with a sore jaw.