Patrick almost there!

HAVING scored the first try of the ten we put on Rochdale Hornets last time out, our former New Zealand Warriors and Samoa winger Patrick Ah Van has now totalled 149 tries in his career.

He hopes to score his milestone-hitting 150th try at Doncaster on Sunday when Stu Littler’s men will be out to avenge their narrow two-point defeat on the same ground in the Challenge Cup; to inflict the home side’s first league defeat; and at the same time extend their own league record to four wins from four games.

In this second v third clash of two unbeaten teams in Betfred League One, something has to give, that’s for sure.

History favours the Dons, who have won their last six home meetings with Roughyeds, whose last win in Doncaster was 46-26 in Championship One back in 2010. We all know, though, that history counts for nothing in rugby league . . . and you could argue that Oldham are due a win there, if not over-due.

Ah Van, meanwhile, scored two tries for Samoa, 16 for the Warriors, 12 for Bradford Bulls, 95 for Widnes Vikings in eight seasons at Naughton Park, 22 for North Wales Crusaders and, so far, two for us, although his talents are now being used as much as a forward as a barnstorming finisher on the flank.

We now have two young backs in the top nine League One try scorers, namely Jordan Paga on six and Alex Sutton, a dual-reg centre from Wigan, on four. In the goals section, Martyn Ridyard is third on 20.

BETFRED LEAGUE ONE — LEADING SCORERS

(League games only)

Tries

1 = Sam Smeaton (Doncaster) 7

Sean Sabutey (Workington Town) 7

3 = Owen Restall (Dewsbury Rams) 6

Jordan Paga (OLDHAM) 6

5 = Cameron Brown (Cornwall) 4

Perry Whiteley (Dewsbury Rams) 4

Adam Ryder (Hunslet) 4

Matt Welham (Midlands Hurricanes) 4

Alex Sutton (OLDHAM) 4