Oldham 48 Hunslet 16
Hunslet paid the price for a slow start to both halves at Boundary Park (July 27th) against top 4 Club Oldham.
The Roughyeds have had a good first season back up in the Championship, including a 4-54 win at the South Leeds Stadium last June, but Hunslet made it easy for them at times with unforced errors.
On minute one a break down the right for Oldham looked to have broken down, but the loose ball hit a Hunslet player and Ref Tara Jones waved play on for Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e to score under the posts. Converted by Kieran Dixon. 6-0
Oldham were dominant early on, but penalties and loose Hunslet passes helped them along.
After winning a scrum against the head Oldham shipped the ball to the right. Mackenzie Turner made the tackle but the ball was slipped out to Mathieu Pons who scored in the corner. 10-0.
Four minutes later a nice cut out pass sent Kieran Dixon down the left wing to score. 14-0 and at a point a minute things felt ominous.
Hunslets defence started to improve, and Oldham feeling the left side was the best option overplayed. Joe Ward picked up a loose ball and at last Hunslet had some attacking play.
Although on this occasion debutant Sam Ackroyds kick was too strong another Ward break meant Ackroyd and Gaskell could combine to send Billy Jowitt over. 14-4
Oldham’s restart went out on the full and Hunslet came again. Gaskell and Rugless causing problems.
Frustratingly Oldham scored on 35 minutes when on the last tackle a Roughyeds forward released the ball with 4 men around him having gathered a kick. Quick thinking play by Kieran Dixon and Oldham shipped it to the right for Ben O’Keefe to score. 18-4
But Hunslet ended the half well, when that combination of Lee Gaskell and Billy Jowitt came off. A perfectly timed pass and Jowitt hitting at pace made it 18-8 and with Jowitt’s conversion on the hooter it was 18-10 at the break.
All to play for, but from the start of the second half Hunslet knocked on and invited more Oldham pressure. Quick hands and Ben O’Keefe got his 2nd of the day. 22-10.
Another knock-on from a kick and more pressure for Hunslet to soak up, but the slippery skill of Laulu-Togaga’e was too much as he registered his 2nd try of the day. 26-10.
It was all Oldham now and a nice ball on the last tackle sent Kieran Dixon over for his brace, before on 62 minutes Laulu-Togaga’e went on a windy run and Owen Farnworth busted over to score. Josh Drinkwater taking over kicking duties and converting to the crowds cheers. 36-10
To be fair Hunslet were playing with 12 men whilst Billy Jowitt received treatment and Kevin Larroyer looked to have taken a knock. But from a promising score at half time, when George Hirst scored on the last tackle on 62 minutes the score had gone from 18-10 to 42-10.
Another certain Oldham try was brilliantly saved by a Jimmy Watson tackle and this seemed to spur on Hunslet. Both Ackroyd and Jowitt went close before on 72 minutes Harvey Hallas powered over after a scrum. Jowitt converting 42-16.
Another scrum and Gaskell kicked for Mackenzie Turner to chase. The winger skillfully tapped the ball inside for Oldham to kick dead. But Hunslet having no luck whilst losing Oldham got the tap rather than a drop out.
On 78 minutes Gil Dudson used his strength to power over, Dixon converting, and although Harrison Gilmore and Harvey Hallas went close the hooter went at 48-16.
Another tough defeat for Hunslet to take, but some chinks of light. Gaskell and Jowitt looked to link well and Sam Ackroyd was lively on debut. Ward and Rugless also played well.
If Hunslet play like the second and fourth quarter today rather than like the first and third they should notch another victory or two this season.
OLDHAM – Laulu-Togaga’e, Pons, O’Keefe, Davies, Dixon, Smith, Drinkwater, Chapelhow, Wildie, Farnworth, Taylor, Hirst, Milner, Aldridge, Baxter, Dudson, Moran, Agoro.
HUNSLET – Watson, Turner, McEwan-Peters, Jowitt, Ward, Gaskell, Ackroyd, Hallas, Corbett, Larroyer, Kirby, Gilmore, Fletcher, Syme, Carr, Rugless, O’Hanlon, Wood.
