Roughyeds edge closer to League 1 title glory

Oldham survived four key injuries to power past Midlands Hurricanes 32-0, scoring six tries and recording their fourth shut-out of the season to move within two wins of the League 1 title.

Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e sparkled and there were some huge performances in the pack as Sean Long's men chalked off another vital win in their pursuit of automatic promotion to the Betfred Championship.

The Roughyeds will now need every inch of their formidable squad for the run-in, having lost former New Zealand international Elijah Taylor ten minutes before kick-off and then suffering a serious injury to new half-back Riley Dean along with injuries to forwards Brad Gallagher and Adam Sidlow.

"I'm massively proud," Long told Roughyeds TV.

"We had lads go down in the warm-up, we called on Lawton to step in who has not played in 12 weeks, we lost Riley in the first 10 minutes, we had lads out of position.

"You can tell what a tight group they are.

"They are willing to work hard for each other."

The late loss of Taylor meant Craig Kopczak came into the starting line-up and Lawton was promoted on to the bench ahead of schedule to make his return from a serious injury suffered in the defeat at Keighley in May.

It was an Oldham line-up showing two changes from last week with Logan Astley replacing the injured Danny Craven, as well as Kopczak's return.

And in front of almost 1600 vocal fans in the Joe Royle Stand, the home side struck first through their captain Jordan Turner.

A Midlands knock-on gifted Oldham possession, and swift handling across the line from right to left allowed the former Super League star to touch down.

Kieran Dixon kicked a beauty on an impressive afternoon with the boot and the Roughyeds were up and running.

Minutes later though new boy Dean went down in agony close to the line and needed crutches to make his way off the field.

The former Warrington man's early fears are of a fractured ankle.

In-form Bailey Aldridge came on as hooker, with Matty Wildie switching into the halves.

And it was those two who combined for try number two as Aldridge and Wildie laid the platform for PLT to dance through the line, Dixon again converting.

And there were two more tries before the break as Oldham soared into a 22-0 lead.

Flying winger Mo Agoro finished in the corner - Dixon converting brilliantly for 18-0 before Astley strolled in for an easy score on his return to the team.

A further blow though saw Sidlow jar his back, and the on-loan Salford prop would not return leaving the Roughyeds running out of bodies on the bench.

A stubborn second-half saw two further tries and another injury - Brad Gallagher, who collapsed at Rochdale last week, dislocating a thumb to reduce the interchange bench to one man.

It mattered little in the end, as some huge minutes from Pat Moran, Owen Farnworth and the Chapelhow twins saw Oldham home, Kieran Dixon adding the fifth try with a spectacular catch from Astley's cross-field kick, and Wildie rounding off the scoring with a dummy through. Midlands thought they had a late consolation but were denied by a forward pass.

"It is very pleasing to keep them out," said Long.

"Midlands are a good team and we had to start fast.

"The first half how we performed was really good, completing at around 90 per cent.

"The boys are proper buying into it and they know how to win big games.

"Elijah's back spasmed up so we had to make a late call and Lawts was ready to go.

"Riley is a massive blow, he came up with a special play to get us the win last week and has been a calming influence on our team.

"Luckily I have Wildie who can step in there.

"I asked Pat to play in the back row for 80 minutes and he just said 'yeah no worries'. It's a team mentality first."

With four games of the season remaining Oldham lead the Cougars at the top by three points.

Wins for both teams next weekend - when Oldham host rock-bottom Newcastle, would mean the Roughyeds could clinch the title the following weekend when they travel to play Keighley again at Cougar Park.

Oldham team: Laulu-Togaga'e, Agoro, Jack Johnson, Turner, Dixon, Astley, Dean, Farnworth, Wildie, J Chapelhow, Gallagher, Moran, Kopczak.

Subs: Aldridge, T Chapelhow, Lawton, Sidlow.

18th man: Astley.

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