Jordan Paga was in good company when he scored four tries last Sunday in Oldham’s 62-18 thrashing of London Skolars at the Vestacare Stadium.
Despite a blip early in the second half, a smart-looking Roughyeds outfit ran in 11 tries in their first league game of the season and did enough to promote the belief that 2023 could be their year.
Paga, the former Hunslet player, started this game at scrum-half and later moved to full-back when Gregg McNally hobbled off after scoring his second try midway through the first half.
He joined numerous other players who have scored four tries in a match since the club started afresh in 1997 following the liquidation of Oldham Bears.
The list now reads:
Chris Baines, Mark Brocklehurst, James Bunyan, Jonathan Ford, Dave Gibbons, John Gillam, Tommy Goulden, Danny Halliwell, Simon Haughton, Luke Hooley, Adam Hughes, Danny Langtree, Kian Morgan, Jordan Paga, Owen Restall, Mark Sibson (twice).
Of the 16, 12 are backs, the exceptions being Chris Baines, Tommy Goulden, Simon Haughton and Danny Langtree. Now, doesn’t that tell you something, especially considering that most of the four-try men were centres or wingers.