Rampant Roughyeds hit 400 for the season in blistering Skolars win

Try-scoring machine Patrick Ah Van bagged another hat-trick of tries as Oldham breezed past London Skolars to win 62-14.

It was a much more rounded performance from Oldham who, barring a five minute period, were always in control at the New River Stadium.

The towering Samy Kibula had his best game for Roughyeds, so far, as the Skolars simply could not handle him.

Luke Nelmes produced another strong performance and got a try to top it off, on his 100th career appearance.

Jordan Paga was his usual elusive, pacey self and gave the Skolars tacklers a torrid time with him at the heart of a lot of Oldham’s plays, again.

Another danger man was Kian Morgan, who put in a strong performance as he got on the scoresheet for the second time this season.

Going into the game, much was made of Oldham making a fast start, and for large parts of the first half, that’s what they delivered.

There was fantastic kick pressure to bat down Skolars’ kick from their first set and, shortly after, Ah Van looked to have been in but referee Andy Sweet ruled it out.

Just shy of five minutes on the clock and Oldham had their first score through Paga.

His low-driven kicks, this season, have been deadly and it proved to be the case again, as he collected his own kick to score under the posts.

A few minutes later and Oldham were in again, and it was Ah Van – who just can’t seem to stop scoring – who dived over in the corner, as he so often does.

But, then came London’s response who piled the pressure on as Hartley, with the sun in his eyes, couldn’t hold onto Skolars’ last play kick.

Another error came through an Ah Van loose carry, and Skolars took their chances through Leighton Ball who scored on the wing after he was put in by a cross-field kick by Jacob Thomas.

Skolars doubled their score, shortly after, through Matt Ross who sneaked in under the sticks, but that was as good as it got for London in the first forty.

Then, a quick Oldham play-the-ball had Skolars defenders scrambling and as they shifted the ball out left, they could not catch Ah Van who went in to score his second.

Not long after, Kibula powered his way through the Skolars line to set Emmerson Whittel away, who then shifted it to Jordan Paga who darted up towards the try-line.

There was a scramble, as a Skolars hand batted the ball free, and it was Matty Wilkinson who pounced and played in Kian Morgan to score under the posts.

Just before the half-time hooter, Gregg McNally added another try direct from the scrum, after Skolars knocked on as they attempted to collect a Paga grubber.

In the second forty, Oldham came roaring forward again and Zac Baker was the beneficiary when gaps opened up, as he ran in unopposed.

Skolars responded through a Deery try shortly after Paga was sin-binned for holding on too long in the tackle when they broke through the line.

London struggled in the second forty and threw away many advances they had with knock-ons.

Roughyeds responded to the try instantly and Martyn Ridyard, from the kick off, sent the ball spiralling wildly which full-back Kudungirana could not collect.

Skolars scrambled back as Connor Carr picked up the ball and drove towards the line, but they couldn’t stop Samy Kibula who was too strong as he scored his first try in Oldham colours.

Then came Ah Van’s third, but the plaudits must equally go to Paga who produced a peach of a pass as he ballooned the ball over everybody into Ah Van’s hands to score.

Then there was some good play by Zac Baker, as he set Morgan off through the Skolars half who then played in Wilkinson to get Oldham’s ninth.

Matters were made worse for Skolars as Luke Nelmes forced his way over to score on his 100th appearance.

Oldham were not satisfied with just ten and – just before the hooter sounded – Sean Slater, who is always bursting with energy, broke through the London defence with ease and ran some 30 or so metres to score.

Slater’s try meant Roughyeds hit 400 points scored after ten games played, and they will be hoping to add to that when Doncaster come to town next week, which will be another huge game.

OLDHAM: McNally; Hartley, Carr, Morgan, Ah Van; Ridyard, Paga; Nelmes, Wilkinson, Meadows, Hirst, Baker, Whittel. Subs: Slater, Kibula, Newton, Moran (all used). 18th Man: Brierley.

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