Roughyeds run in 11 tries in opening day romp

Roughyeds won convincingly in their first home game of the season, running in 11 tries in a 62-18 victory against London Skolars, with four from Jordan Paga.

Paga had a blinding game, completing his hat-trick after half an hour and he was just as impactful in defence, too.

During the game, there were several changes in positions with Paga going from scrum-half to full-back when McNally went off with an injury; Patrick Ah Van went from wing to prop as well as Zac Baker who filled in at prop when George Hirst was introduced, but it didn’t seem to disrupt Roughyeds play.

Oldham were unrelenting during the first half and Skolars struggled to gain a foothold in the game with their only try in the first 40 coming from a Todd Peut kick charge-down.

After a lacklustre start, Skolars stayed on the field during the half-time break and they were quick out of the blocks in the second forty.

Oldham struggled to replicate their quick, free-flowing attacks and Skolars clawed back the advantage to 20 points, before Roughyeds turned on the taps with second half tries from Tyrer, Paga, Carr and Blagbrough.

Gregg McNally was the first name on the scoresheet  when he scored under the sticks after Roughyeds forced a goal-line drop-out early on.

A few minutes later and Oldham were in again.

As the ball was shifted along the line, Paga dummied a pass, spotted a gap and scored a try which was converted by Martyn Ridyard.

Paga’s second came from his deft grubber kick on the last play. Ah Van and Paga exchanged passes before Paga touched down, the try was unconverted.

After a Skolars knock on 10 metres from the line, McNally - in acres of space - got his second try, converted by Ridyard.

Skolars responded when a Ridyard kick was charged down by Todd Peut who ran in unopposed for a try, converted by Jack Ryan.

McNally, who seems to always find himself in the right place at the right time, got his second of the game after spotting a gap in the Skolars defence, which Ridyard converted.

Next, it was Alex Sutton’s turn. Direct from the scrum, Sutton collected the ball and ran some 40 metres, fending off weak Skolars hands to make the score 28-6.

Paga ran in his third before Ah Van got in on the act when he scored a try of his own to extend the lead to 38-6 going into the break.

In the second half, errors crept into Stuart Littler’s side with knock-ons and loose balls, as Oldham tried to force plays that weren’t on.

Skolars gained a foothold, had more of the ball, and they scored two consecutive tries from Christian Gale and Aaron Small.

That was as good as it got for Skolars as Oldham wrestled back control of the game.

Their indiscipline cost them dearly with a sin-binning and several repeat penalties in Oldham’s favour.

Oldham had set after set, deep in the Skolars half, and they finally found the line when Kieran Tyrer could not be prevented from scoring from close range which Ridyard converted.

Roughyeds took full advantage of the extra man with Connor Carr the next to score and then Paga got his fourth try, which was the pick of the lot.

He was some way off the try line when he shrugged off four London tacklers and, somehow, he kept advancing and managed to touch the ball down to make it 56-18.

There was great work for Roughyeds final try by Connor Car who ran 50-odd metres up the field before Jack Blagbrough got a try when he powered over the line.

OLDHAM TEAM: McNally; Hartley, Sutton, Morgan, Ah Van; Ridyard, Paga; Blagbrough, Wilkinson, Nelmes, Ferry, Baker, Meadows.

Subs: Tyrer, Slater, Carr, Hirst (all used)

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