Resilient Roughyeds move second thanks to Eagles win

Sean Long hailed Oldham's defence as Roughyeds won 20-8 at Sheffield Eagles to make it back-to back victories to move second in the Betfred Championship.

Tries from Adam Lawton, Josh Drinkwater and a late Kieran Dixon score sealed the fightback win, with Oldham having trailed 8-0 before taking control in a gritty, tactical contest at the Steel City Stadium.

"To come here and get a win I would have taken that 100 per cent, especially with the injuries we have," said head coach Long, who lost Elijah Taylor to a head injury and fears match-winner Dixon may have broken his arm.

"Our defence is what is keeping us in games at times. We are only conceding 10 points per game and that is what wins you games."

Long recalled Dixon to the wing and Bailey Aldridge at hooker, with Matty Wildie starting at stand-off in place of the injured Danny Craven. Riley Dean was also absent through concussion protocols.

Oldham started well but fell behind against the run of place when Eagles centre James Glover grabbed an intercept and raced the length of the pitch to score.

Cory Aston converted to give Craig Lingard's side a 6-0 lead.

Taylor underwent the first of two head injury assessments in the first half, before Aston added a penalty to give Sheffield an 8-0 advantage.

Crucially Oldham forced their way onto the scoreboard before half time as Lawton crashed over in trademark fashion, Dixon adding the two for a 6-8 half-time deficit.

The second half saw Oldham exert more control, as the influential Drinkwater capitalised on a tap back from his own kick through to score under the posts, Dixon again converting for a 12-8 lead.

Oldham added a Drinkwater penalty for a high shot on Dixon to move eight clear, but still had to wait until the final moments to seal it.

Drinkwater went for a superb early 40-20 attempt, and in saving the ball from finding touch the Eagles could only tap back in field to Dixon to touch down the match-winner.

"Dixon might have broken his arm," Long revealed.

"He was saying it was sore and then ended up scoring a try with it

"Our attack was a bit off with our cohesion but our games management got us home.

"It was in the balance but we kept turning up for one another and backed our effort.

"We will have some sore bodies and we have a great opportunity now against Barrow next weekend because we are two games away from Wembley."

Oldham's win was based on a stubborn defence and the game-management of Drinkwater and Wildie as Long's men moved up to second in the Championship table.

Oldham now face Barrow in the 1895 Cup quarter-finals at Boundary Park next Sunday afternoon, with Roughyeds two games away from a first ever appearance at Wembley.

A big crowd is expected, and tickets for the game have been reduced to just £12 each for adults.

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