Oldham pointing their way to promotion

Betfred League One: Oldham 46-30 North Wales OLDHAM RLFC 46

If competitive sport is all about "points", Oldham Rugby League Club is doing very nicely, thank-you.

The 46 they rattled up against in-form North Wales Crusaders at the Vestacare Stadium last Sunday took their total in 15 Betfred League 1 games this year to 488 ---more than any other team in the division.

They would have preferred to concede fewer than 30, but they have still let in only  267 in total, the fifth best.

And when it comes to points difference --- those scored minus those conceded --- their 221 is again the best in the division.

So are Roughyeds "pointing" their way to promotion ?

With five games to play they lie in second place, three points behind leaders Whitehaven, with whom they have shared the spoils, winning 36-12 at home and losing 16-10 up in Cumbria.

The team finishing top goes up automatically, to be joined by the winners of a five-club play-off, featuring the teams finishing second to sixth inclusive.

Oldham's hopes of finishing top suffered a serious blow with their defeat at Whitehaven, but they acknowledge that finishing second provides a massive advantage in the play-off.

With that in mind they had to beat North Wales Crusaders and they soaked up the pressure to score eight tries in a comprehensive victory.

Full-back Ritchie Hawkyard and right-wing Harry Aaronson each scored a brace and others were scored by Lee Kershaw, Danny Bridge, Matty Wilkinson and Phil Joy.

The pick of the eight was undoubtedly left-winger Lee Kershaw's magnificent solo effort in the first half when he scored from long range after sweeping past two defenders up the touchline.

Half-back Dave Hewitt converted seven of the eight tries to take his total of Betfred League 1 goals to 47.

He is fourth equal in the league list behind Workington's Carl Forber (53), Hunslet's Reece Dean (51) and Keighley's Benn Hardcastle (49).

He is third in the points list behind Hardcastle (126) and Dean (122). Hewitt has 114.

Team: Hawkyard; Aaronson, McComb, Leeming, Kershaw; Brook, Hewitt; Joy, Owen, Spencer, Bridge, Langtree, Bent, Subs: Wilkinson, Whittel, Law, Calland.

Ref, Liam Staveley; Att; 616

By Roger Halstead