IF our game against West Wales Raiders at the Vestacare Stadium was to be a hit, we needed to pile on a few points and we had to generate a decent attendance. Clearly, we achieved both of our targets on another great day at the Vestacare Stadium.
The score, 100-4, comprising of 18 tries and 14 goals, was the second time in three home games against the Welshmen that we hit treble figures – a statement of fact and in no way intended to discredit the team from Llanelli, whose players, coaching staff, management and fans deserve enormous credit and respect for battling away as they do despite enormous odds that are stacked against them.
We fell short by three points of hitting our highest-ever score, but the winning margin of 96 equalled that when we beat Raiders 102-6 at home on July 8, 2018.
Back then, when Raiders made their first visit to Oldham, we scored 18 tries and 15 goals, split between Paul Crook (7) and Dave Hewitt (8).
This time, Martyn Ridyard kicked 14 goals (18 attempts) to equal the all-time goals-in-a-match record by the great Bernard Ganley, who kicked 14 against Liverpool City on April 4, 1959.
Stand-off Ridyard, who was also outstanding in general play, scored a try as well to take his personal points contribution to 32.
The try list was headed by full-back Owen Restall and 21-year-old centre Kian Morgan, who each scored four. Morgan’s four was achieved on debut, given that his only other appearance so far this year was in a pre-season warm-up game.
Head coach Stu Littler was to comment afterwards on how pleased he was with all the players but especially the four on debut — centre Morgan, half-back Logan Astley (18), hooker Tom Forber (18) and hooker Billy Yarrow (23).
Astley and Forber are with us on loan from Wigan Warriors, initially for two weeks, while Yarrow is here on trial from Dewsbury Celtic.
The 18 tries were scored by Morgan (4), Restall (4), Astley (2), Liam Copland (2), Ben Holcroft, Will Cooke, Yarrow, Ridyard, Jordan Andrade and James Thornton.
Luke Nelmes also played particularly well at prop, the club naming Nelmes, Morgan, Astley and Forber as the four worthy of consideration for man of the match as voted for by fans.
The win, in which we led 46-0 at half-time, lifted us to fifth place in the table (currently fourth from five in the play-off spots) with three points from a possible six.
Said Littler:
”We had spoken during the week about how we should play in a match we were expected to win and I was pleased with our professionalism and our ruthlessness.
”It’s a short turnaround now before we go to Rochdale on Friday. We’ll be in as usual on Tuesday and Thursday evening, but the 21-man squad will be named on Wednesday and Thursday will be different to normal in that it will take the form of the team run."
On a different theme, Littler said what a pleasure it was to see the young boys of the curtain-raiser enjoying themselves with a rugby ball and then performing club duties by carrying flags etc.
”These boys and girls are out future,"
he said.
”It’s always great to have them here and to see their parents and supporters. A big thank-you to all of those for their commitment to the sport. As a parent myself, I know what’s involved and what a commitment it is."
The attendance figure of 651 was also encouraging — not massive, obviously, but than DOUBLE the 2018 figure for the same game and about 100 up on the 2019 figure.
For the record, this was how Roughyeds went into battle.
Restall; Copland, Cooke, Morgan, Holcroft; Ridyard, Astley; Nelmes. Forber, Spencer, Thornton, Ferry, Whittel. Subs (all used): Yarrow, Andrade, Newton, Cameron.
Pens, 6-4; HT, 46-0; Ref, Liam Rush; Att, 651.
