ON the back of Oldham’s superlative, attacking performance in their 11-try, 62-18 win against London Skolars at the Vestacare Stadium, Stu Littler’s men occupy third place in Betfred League 1 after their first league outing of the season.
Leaders Dewsbury Rams and second-placed Doncaster have four points from two games, but Roughyeds have a game in hand as well as a better ‘for and against’ record than the other three teams on two points; namely, Workington, Hunslet and Midlands Hurricanes.
“It was hugely important we got off to a good start and all credit to the boys for doing it,” said head coach Stu Littler. “We won’t get carried away after only one league game, but it was certainly a good start.”
Jordan Paga, who set off at half-back and moved to full-back when Greg McNally hobbled off midway through the first half, had a sensational game, scoring four tries which included a first-half hat-trick.
Paga won the man-of-the-match award and later heard club chairman Chris Hamilton speak very highly of him in the hospitality suite.
Paga himself said:
“I’m absolutely loving it here — loving it.”
Most of the tries were scored by backs on the end of crowd-pleasing, wing-to-wing football, but in presenting substitute George Hirst with the Magic Moment award, the chairman also paid tribute to the forwards, with special mentions for Zak Baker and for Patrick Ah Van, who began the game on the wing but switched to the forwards.
Hooker Matty Wilkinson also had a class game from dummy half.
Littler spoke highly of the team’s performance, but also referred to the spell just after half-time when Skolars upped their game and Roughyeds went though a spell in which they started to force passes and had a period when four out of seven sets ended in error.
At that stage, Skolars’ indiscipline cost them heavily. They conceded five penalties on the spin and that was another major factor in the way Oldham regained control in the final quarter.
For the record, club captain and stand-off Martyn Ridyard landed nine goals from 11 attempts and tries were scored by Jordan Paga (4), Greg McNally (2), Alex Sutton, this after a magnificent long-range run direct from a scrum, Patrick Ah Van, Kieran Tyrer, Connor Carr and Jack Blackbrough.
Full-back Dan Bristow and scrum-half Jack Ryan looked handy lads for the visitors, but overall the Londoners were well beaten and outclassed by an Oldham side for which Kian Morgan, on-loan Connor Carr and Wigan’s dual-reg youngsters Alex Sutton and Kieran Tyrer (Sean’s son, Colin’s grandson), also showed up well.
Sean and Colin Tyer were there to watch, as were several members of the Players’ Association, including Ray Hicks, John Watkins, Joe Warburton, Adrian Alexander (doubling up as club ambassador), Tony Finan, Mike Elliott, David Walker, Martin Murphy.
On the pitch at half-time, the legendary Elliott and Murphy presented the Barrow family with the Heritage Certificate for the late 1950s winger Roland Barrow, who played opposite Brian Bevan in the 1954 Championship Final against Warrington at Maine Road.
He later played for Huddersfield and Tony Finan, who also played at Fartown, is currently involved in organising Roland’s Heritage Certificate from there too.
The Players’ Associaton’s monthly meeting takes place tonight (Monday) at Springhead Sports and Social Club, starting at 7.45pm.
Amari Plastics, the club’s new chief sponsors in a two-year deal, were also at the Vestacare Stadium in force on a day when, pre-match, the chairman introduced the coach of the new Oldham Women’s team.
Our chief photographer Dave Murgatroyd works for Amari Plastics, who had several management members at the game and expressed their delight at being involved with Roughyeds.
The new women’s coach, Steve Fitzmartin, has vast experience of women’s rugby league, having been assistant coach to the crack St Helens women’s team when they won the Challenge Cup and the Super League Grand Final in 2021.
Any female wishing to take up the game with the Oldham club is asked to contact the club.
