HORNETS have won on their last two league visits to Oldham and have, in fact, triumphed in four of their last five league games against their derby rivals.
The Roughyeds’ last home victory against Hornets in the league was 38-18 on July 12, 2015 so Oldham are certainly due some derby delight when these old enemies clash at the Vestacare Stadium on Friday night in a fascinating Betfred League 1 clash, kicking off at 7.30pm.
The days when Oldham were hot favourites to beat the men in red, white and blue are long gone, but Stu Littler’s lads will be extra keen to win this one, given that they are chasing their third win from three league games this season and that this game is the first home match for the new owners, thus starting a new chapter in a long history after 25 years under the watch of local man Chris Hamilton.
The last five league meetings of these famous clubs finished like this:
Rochdale 38, Oldham 24 (L1-EPO, 11/9/22)
Oldham 24, Rochdale 50 (L1R14, 10/7/22)
Rochdale 34, Oldham 18 (L1R4, 15/4/22)
Rochdale 24, Oldham 30 (CSR4, 28/8/17)
®Oldham 24, Rochdale 34 (ChR23, 23/7/17)
(at Bower Fold).
Winger Patrick Ah Van, one of the Oldham players who could be a match-winner, needs two tries to reach 150 for his career. He has scored them like this:
- 1 for Oldham (2023)
- 22 for North Wales Crusaders (2018, dual-registration, 2021-2022)
- 95 for Widnes Vikings (2012-2019)
- 12 for Bradford Bulls (2011)
- 16 for New Zealand Warriors (2006-2010)
- 2 for Samoa (2009).
Leading scorers in League 1 look like this:
Tries
1 = Owen Restall (Dewsbury Rams) 6
Sean Sabutey (Workington Town) 6
3 = Perry Whiteley (Dewsbury Rams) 4
Adam Ryder (Hunslet) 4
Matt Welham (Midlands Hurricanes) 4
Jordan Paga (OLDHAM) 4
Goals
1 Paul Sykes (Dewsbury Rams) 24
2 Ciaran Walker (Workington Town) 17
3 Jake Sweeting (Hunslet) 14
4 Martyn Ridyard (OLDHAM) 12
5 Ben Stead (Midlands Hurricanes) 11
Points
1 Paul Sykes (Dewsbury Rams) 49
2 Jake Sweeting (Hunslet) 36
3 Ciaran Walker (Workington Town) 34
4 = Owen Restall (Dewsbury Rams) 24
Martyn Ridyard (OLDHAM) 24
Connor Robinson (Doncaster) 24
Sean Sabutey (Workington Town) 24
