Roughyeds know the score

Oldham's second row star Danny Langtree

The impact of second-row pair Danny Langtree and Danny Bridge in Oldham RLFC’s surge to third place in Betfred League 1 is reflected in the club’s current try-scoring list.

Centre Zack McComb, who scored a hat-trick in each of the last two games against Hemel Stags and West Wales Raiders, is out in front with eight.

Then come Bridge and Langtree on seven and six respectively, the former having overtaken his second-row buddy with a brace against Hemel and another against the Welshmen in Llanelli.

Surprisingly, ‘Langers’ didn’t score in either of those 70-plus walkovers, but he ‘made’ a few out on the right while the other Danny was terrorising the opposition on the left.

This twin strike force of wide-running second-rowers is regularly taking defences apart in a side that has strung together five league wins in a row and will be hoping to extend that run with another victory in their next match against fourth-placed Doncaster at the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday week, June 3 (kick-off 3pm).

One of the longest-serving players at the club, Langtree is enjoying a magnificent season — his best since Scott Naylor made him a first-team regular in 2013.

New-boy Bridge, in his first season with his home-town club, is more than fulfilling expectations in a similar job on the other side of the field, both in scoring tries and showing exemplary handling skills to assist others to do the same.

His link with centre Matt Reid is producing a lethal combination and one that promises to achieve much in the second part of the season.

Top tries to date: McComb 8, Bridge 7, Langtree 6, Hewitt 5, Joy 5, Reid 5, West 5, Eccleston 4, Johnson 3, Kershaw 3, Wilkinson 3.

Boss Naylor, meanwhile, has welcomed the opportunity to give his players a rest this week.

With a blank Sunday coming up, they’ve been given the week off and Naylor says it is well deserved.

“They’ve been putting in a lot recently,” he said, “and a little break will do them good.

“When we’ve previously given them a bit of time off they’ve come back with some extra zip. Our recent run of form has been very pleasing and I’m sure they’ll benefit from a break, if only to get away from me for a while!”