ROUGHYEDS played some of their best rugby of the season to beat Hunslet 30-18 at the Vestacare Stadium and book their passage into the Betfred League One play-offs.
By doing so, they achieved a target they set themselves before the season started. There have been setbacks along the way, but they got there in the end by producing a thoroughly professional and committed performance which had plenty of X-Factor, none more so than that to be found in left-wing Owen Restall’s two exciting, length-of-the-field breakaway tries in the second half.
They broke Hunslet hearts, if not their resilience, and gave Roughyeds the momentum and the conidence to go on and get the job done.
In both instances, the Yorkshiremen were attacking hard in a tight, competitive contest with schemer-in-chief Matty Beharrell attempting to bring dangerous right-wing Jack Render into the action at the corner.
Firstly, and with Roughyeds 12-10 in front, Beharrell thew a wide, high, cut-out pass to the wing and the tall Restall plucked it out of the air near his own line to go the full distance and to score at the opposite end of the ground to the clubhouse and dressing rooms.
When something similar happened again with only a minute left on the clock, Roughyeds led 24-18 (a draw would have seen Hunslet through) and the visitors were again going all out for the all-important points.
This time, and immediately after a hurried Ridyard drop-goal attempt had passed low and wide, Beharrell kicked to the corner for Render and Restall again used his height and experience as a full-back to rise in the air, collect the ball in Render’s challenge and then set off like any good winger would to show another clean pair of heels to the defence and to send Roughyeds into the play-offs.
Goalkicking immaculately (another feature of the game in which Roughyeds excelled and enjoyed a massive advantage), Ridyard converted both tries from wide out to finish with five conversions from as many attempts and, in so doing, to reach the milestone of 2,500 points in his long career.
By comparison, Hunslet turned only one of their four tries into a six-point haul and the potential six points that went begging there again emphasised the value of the Oldham captain’s goalkicking expertise.
Teamwork and togetherness, with 17 men playing vital roles, and celebrating afterwards on the pitch to enjoy the moment with the fans, was another feature of this final game in the regular season.
As well as Restall’s magic moments and Ridyard’s perfect goalkicking, though, it would be remiss not to draw attention to Kian Morgan’s brilliance under the high ball at full-back; Dave Hewitt’s assistance in second-half tries by Billy Yarrow and Morgan; a great performance by Luke Nelmes, his best of the season; and especially the sheer volume of work and honest endeavour by Emmerson Whittel.
Man-of-the-match Whittel only played after a week of intense treatment and rehab following his rib injury sustained at Swinton the week before. He went through the pain barrier on the Roughyeds’ behalf, not only shirking nothing, but leading from the front, constantly putting his body on the line, and coming up with an absolutely outstanding effort based on guts, courage, commitment and desire.
He set the perfect example for all the other forwards and they all responded to guarantee that Hunslet’s big and mobile pack, led by Harvey Hallas and the huge Josh Jordan-Roberts (son of Two Bobs) knew they had been in a game.
The strong driving and willingness to make the hard yards by Tom Spencer and James Thornton was also top-drawer stuff.
More than anything, though, this particular 17 gained the confidence of their supporters and were at pains afterwards to thank fans for “sticking with us” during a tough campaign that was reaching its zenith on a high note.
It wasn’t like that, however, in the first few minutes. Roughyeds looked nervous and edgy when they first came out and fans were no doubt fearing the worst when Hunslet scored tries by centre Jason Mossop and by the towering Jordan-Roberts in the first ten minutes.
Pat Walker goaled the second try and as Hunslet went 10-0 up while late-comers were still coming into the ground, Oldham had given themselves a mountain to climb.
Hunslet played a lot of good stuff with exceptionally strong work up front by Hallas and the son of Two Bobs
and with the classy Beharrell calling the shots from half-back, but Oldham also improved no end as they grew into the game.
It was nip and tuck for long periods but Oldham made the vital breakthrough in the 27th minute when Ridyard kicked high to the right and centre Calvin Wellington rose highest, took the ball, turned and dropped over the line. Ridyard kicked the goal with almost nonchalant precision and Roughyeds were back in the game heading towards half-time.
What’s more, they made a flying start to the second half on the back of two penalties, with Yarrow going under the posts from Hewitt, followed quickly by the first of Restall’s beauties, both improved of course by that man Ridyard.
With only seven second-half minutes on the clock, Oldham led 18-10 and it was Hunslet’s turn to fight back which they did when Beharrel’s last-tackle kick — who else? — saw Render this time get the better of Restall and drop over the line to score.
Oldham then scored the try of the match — a real team try and a delight to behold,
Restall broke the line in midfield, Hewitt got with him to go clear and he found Morgan in support on the right. Hewitt drew the full-back and executed perfectly to send Morgan streaking for the line. Ridyard goaled and at 24-14 with only quarter of an hour left we perhaps began to think that things were looking good.
Hunslet had other ideas and they came again when Beharrell and Hallas shipped the ball right for Mossop to put in Render at the corner.
Crucially, the kick off the touchline was well off target, but even so Hunslet were only six points down now and, unlike Roughyeds, they needed only a draw to go through.
They were looking dangerous again, in a match of fierce tackling, hard work and sheer honest endeavour by both sides, when Restall came up with his thrill-a-second second try from distance.
Had he not collected that high kick, Render could have completed his hat-trick in the corner, but as the Oldham winger streaked away up the touchline we knew then that we were home and dry.
Oldham are in the play-offs . . . mission accomplished.
Scorers: Oldham – goals, Ridyard 5/5; tries, Wellington, Yarrow, Restall (2), Morgan; Hunslet - goal, Walker 1/3, Beharrell 0/1; tries, Mossop, Jordan-Roberts, Render (2).
OLDHAM: Morgan; Cooke, Wellington, Hartley, Restall; Ridyard, Hewitt; Nelmes, Butterworth, Spencer, Field, Cameron, Whittel. Subs: Yarrow, Newton, Coventry, Thornton.
HUNSLET: Paga; Render, Mossop, Hallett, Doyle; Walker, Beharrell; Hallas, Greenwood, Hird, Jordan-Roberts, Syme, Oakley. Subs: Whiteley, Moran, Jones, Summers.
Ref: Cameron Worsley.
HT: 6-10; Pens: 4-3; Att: 814.
