OLDHAM and derby rivals Rochdale Hornets, whose Good Friday clash at the Crown Oil Arena is sure to be as intense as it is competitive, can between them boast four of the leading try scorers in Betfred league One.
They’ve only played three games and each club has posted a big score against divisional strugglers West Wales Raiders, but stats don’t lie . . . Roughyeds’ full-back Owen Restall tops the league list with six, two more than his Oldham teammate Kian Morgan, one of several players on four.
In the Hornets’ nest, stand-off Lewis Sheridan has five tries to his name, while veteran full-back Greg McNally, who has played for Roughyeds in the past, has four.
Martyn Ridyard’s 14 goals against West Wales not only equalled Bernard Ganley’s all-time club record for goals in a match. It also lifted him to third place in the league list with 18 – one more than Rochdale’s Sheridan.
| TRIES | |
|---|---|
| Owen Restall (OLDHAM) | 6 |
| Gav Rodden (North Wales) | 5 |
| Lewis Sheridan (Rochdale) | 5 |
| Jack Hansen (Swinton Lions) | 4 |
| Jay Hatton (Swinton Lions) | 4 |
| Greg McNally (Rochdale) | 4 |
| Kian Morgan (OLDHAM) | 4 |
| Max Roberts (Swinton Lions) | 4 |
| Jason Tali (Doncaster) | 4 |
| GOALS | |
|---|---|
| Dan Abram (Swinton Lions) | 30 |
| Tommy Johnson (North Wales) | 24 |
| Martyn Ridyard (OLDHAM) | 18 |
| Lewis Sheridan (Rochdale) | 17 |
| Connor Robinson (Doncaster) | 12 |
| POINTS | |
|---|---|
| Dan Abram (Swinton Lions) | 72 |
| Tommy Johnson (North Wales) | 60 |
| Lewis Sheridan (Rochdale) | 54 |
| Martyn Ridyard (OLDHAM) | 40 |
| Connor Robinson (Doncaster) | 28 |
Hornets, whose head coach is their former centre star Matt Calland, are currently third in the league with a home defeat by North Wales Crusaders and wins against West Wales Raiders (away) and Hunslet (home).
Oldham, one point behind them in fifth place, were well beaten at home by Keighley Cougars, drew at Hunslet and then walloped West Wales 100-4 at the Vestacare Stadium last Sunday.
Half-back Dave Hewitt, who missed the West Wales game with a hip injury, came through his final check successfully and is available for selection.
But Roughyeds go into the derby without powerhouse prop Jordan Andrade, who got married recently and is now away on honeymoon.
“It’s a blow, no doubt, but we knew it was coming,” said coach Stu Littler. “It was pre-booked before he signed and Jordan told us all about it.
“It’s a pity it has fallen on a derby weekend, but it will give somebody else an opportunity and it’s up to him to grab that opportunity.
“We are looking forward to the game; excited by it; hoping for a sell-out with the capacity we’ve got; and hoping our super fans will make it sound like a home game.”
What of Hornets? They’ve assembled a strong squad that’s full of experience in the spine of the side – McNally at full-back, Rangi Chase at half-back, Sean Penkywicz at hooker.
Throw in Gavin Bennion, prop or second-row, and, like Rangi Chase, another big name from yesteryear, Fui Fui Moimoi, and you have the basis of a good squad that can bring out the best in their man of the moment, local boy and stand-off Lewis Sheridan.
Veteran reporter Mike Floyd described Sheridan as “mercurial” in the Rochdale Observer last week and if a half-back like the maverick Rangi Chase has a partner who merits an adjective like that there’s no prize for guessing where the home side’s big threat will come from.
