Oldham's Challenge Cup hopes are over for another year

Three unanswered Doncaster tries in the second half proved to be the difference as Oldham bowed out of the Challenge Cup at the second round stage at the Eco Power Stadium.

A sin-binning to James Thornton in the second forty was the catalyst for Doncaster’s second-half flurry and Oldham, despite leading up until the final five minutes, could not hold on.

In the first half, though, Oldham were free-flowing in attack with quick play-the-balls and offloads and, for large parts, they had the Dons rattled as they completed at 100%.

It was a huge effort from Stuart Littler's men who were without key players such as Kian Morgan and Matty Wilkinson and they were more than a match for Doncaster.

Oldham’s first try came from Ethan Ferry who pounced on a somewhat desperate offload by Calvin Wellington after a strong carry.

Ferry was first to collect the ball and he dived over the line for a try which Martyn Ridyard converted.

Double play-off finalists Doncaster struggled in the first forty under the high kicks of Ridyard and regularly threw away chances to score with poor end to sets.

Oldham’s second try came from more sustained pressure.

The quick passing proved too much to handle for the Dons and a low driven kick under the sticks from Jordan Paga forced a goal-line drop-out.

Paga was involved in a lot of good Roughyeds play, and on the next set he was awarded with a try of his own.

He looked for options to his left and right but opted to go on his own after he spotted a gap in the weak Doncaster defence and he grounded the ball for an unconverted try.

Sean Slater ran hard and found gaps, too.

His run from dummy half caught Doncaster off guard and nobody could lay a hand on him as he tore through the line and shifted the ball to Wigan lad Alex Sutton.

Just as Sutton was being closed in on he found Gregg McNally free in the middle of the field who dived under the sticks, which Ridyard converted.

Ridyard then made up for his earlier missed kick and added two points with a penalty after Doncaster were offside.

The Dons’ favoured spot when attacking was Oldham’s right edge.

Early on they were held back but they persisted, and as the game went on, it paid off.

Jack Sanderson was the benefactor of that tactic with four tries to his name.

The first came as he found a way in at the third time of asking and he powered over Wellington and Joe Hartley for a try.

Shortly after Ridyard kicked over another penalty, it was Sanderson who found a way in again, seconds before the hooter went.

Ben Johnston, playing in the halves, drew in defenders which allowed Sanderson his second of the game.

Oldham came out firing in the second and extended their lead through Wigan dual-registration prop Harvey Makin.

He collected the ball 15 metres out and powered towards the line as he batted off the weak hands of the Doncaster defence.

Three and four Doncaster scrambling defenders could not stop Makin grounding the ball as Oldham regained a foothold in the game.

But, a costly sin-bin kickstarted the Doncaster onslaught.

Doncaster, with the extra man, shifted the ball out to the right and then back to the left to find Sanderson again who scored unchallenged.

After repeat sets, Doncaster opted again for Oldham’s right side, this time Brett Ferres was there and he powered over to reduce the margin to just two points.

Oldham had a chance to edge ahead but, after defending for a huge chunk of second forty, there was a sense of desperation in the play.

With tackles still to go, Roughyeds could only knock on as they threw the ball about and tried to force a try.

A relieving Doncaster penalty gave them field position with just five minutes to go and from there The Dons executed their tried and tested play once more and Sanderson was able to go over again for what proved to be the winning try.

It was tough to take for Oldham who were 18-0 up against their League One promotion rivals after just 20 minutes, but as the game went on fatigue kicked in and with a sin-binning factored in, they could not get over the line.

OLDHAM: McNally; Hartley, Wellington, Sutton, Ah Van; Ridyard, Paga; Blagbrough, Slater, Nelmes, Ferry, Baker, Meadows.

Subs: Carr, Thornton, Tyrer, Makin (all used)

18th man: Hirst

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