A limp, lethargic Oldham performance saw derby rivals Rochdale Hornets regain the Law Cup with an 18-12 win at the Crown Oil Arena where the match survived an early pitch inspection after heavy rain.
Showing far more tenacity and desire than the visitors, Hornets led 14-0 at half-time with tries by Lewis Sheridan, Sam Freeman and Andy Lea and one conversion by Freeman.
Roughyeds bucked up their ideas a bit in the second half and were soon only two points in arrears with tries by Dave Hewitt and Dan Abram, both converted by Abram.
Oldham owed much in the build-up to both tries to Danny Langtree and Matty Wilkinson.
Outstanding for Hornets were hooker Sean Penkywicz and right-wing Shaun Ainscough. who played the key role in three of the four Hornets tries.
Credit Hornets with the bottle to defend stoutly when Roughyeds seriously threatened to go in front and then to stretch their lead when more heroics by Ainscough near the touchline produced the decisive try for Luke Fowden.
Hornets deserved their win on a bitterly disappointing day for Oldham fans.
