Rugby League: Oldham shock Dewsbury
Oldham 18 Dewsbury 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.OLDHAM DESERVEDLY earned a trip to Whitehaven in the last 16 of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup with a stirring victory over a fancied Dewsbury side at Spotland last night.
The sheer enthusiasm of the Oldham side, playing in exile in neighbouring Rochdale a little over a year after re-forming following the demise of the former Oldham Bears Super League club, proved decisive.
Jason Clegg and the captain, Leo Casey, a popular choice as man of the match, were outstanding and typified Oldham's commitment, while Daniel Brown, the Australian half-back, matched a high work-rate with some much needed creativity.
Despite the tireless efforts of Barry Eaton at scrum-half and occasional moments of class from the former Bradford players Paul Medley and Nathan Graham, Dewsbury were forced into numerous handling errors and failed to capitalise on long spells of sustained pressure.
Deft handling by Damian Ball, Dewsbury's loose forward, created an early converted try for Billy Kershaw before Oldham turned the game on its head with three tries in an inspired seven-minute spell.
Emerson Jackman slipped out a superb pass for the winger Adie Mead to score midway through the first half and Brown linked with Graeme Shaw for the supporting Clegg to score. The French full-back Laurent Minut converted both tries. Then Brown, shaping to pass, fooled the Dewsbury defence and scythed over in the corner.
Brendan Williams, Dewsbury's Australian centre, reduced the arrears to six points at the interval with a powerful burst to the line. Oldham lost Minut, who twisted an ankle, at the start of the second half, but held on as Dewsbury pressed with increasing desperation. Brown, their stand- in kicker, then gave Oldham an eight-point cushion with a penalty.
William and Adrian Flynn almost scored a try for the visitors whose last hopes were extinguished when Casey hauled down Eaton inches short of the line.
Oldham: Minut; Mead, Leuila, Bostock, McNicholas; Jackman, Brown; Casey, Hough, Clegg, Shaw, Perrett, Martindale. Substitutes used: Coulter, Prescott, Quinlan, Peralta.
Dewsbury: Graham; Godfrey, Williams, Evans, Flynn; Agar, Eaton; Boothroyd, Delaney, Rose, Medley, Kershaw, Ball. Substitutes used: Firth, Haigh, Hicks, Long.
Referee: P Gilmour (Workington).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments