WITH seconds remaining on the clock, Roughyeds wrestled back a more than deserved point through a Martyn Ridyard penalty goal which levelled the scores at 26-26, after Dewsbury stole the lead moments earlier.
In the baking heat, in front of a packed crowd at the Vestacare Stadium, Oldham had been leading since the 34th minute against a side who, going into the game, had blown away every side they had faced.
Oldham had Dewsbury on the ropes for large parts of the game, thanks to Roughyeds’ fast-paced play, as well as some inch-perfect kicks.
Club captain Ridyard was in sublime form and never put a foot wrong with his kicks, which Dewsbury simply could not cope with.
Patrick Ah Van, who put in a huge stint across a number of positions, never seemed to tire and continued his strong carries – as well as his unrelenting tackles – deep into the closing stages of the game.
New signing Pat Moran came off the bench and injected an athleticism into the Roughyeds side that had table-toppers Dewsbury camped in their own area of the field, for huge swathes of the second half.
A Paul Sykes penalty kick put Dewsbury ahead early on, but Roughyeds took the lead shortly after on the back of a magnificent 40/20 kick by Ridyard.
Ah Van powered his way over in the corner with Roughyeds’ fast-paced passing too quick for Dewsbury.
Oldham kept building pressure on Dewsbury who, going into the match, had conceded just 10 points a game on average.
Ridyard forced a goal-line drop-out and Luke Nelmes, who produced powerful carries, was held up.
But Rams couldn’t stop McNally, who was deadly in the full-back position, as he doubled Oldham’s score.
Dewsbury responded through a cross-field kick which was pinged towards Bradley Graham who leaped high to collect and touch down.
A penalty then gained Dewsbury more field position and Jimmy Beckett – who scored the winning try for Oldham in the 2019 play-off final against Newcastle – powered his way over to score.
Jordan Paga’s marauding run caused problems for Rams and, as Roughyeds shifted the ball, Ridyard’s kick sailed over Simon Frewin and found the hands of Joe Hartley who dived over to level the scoreline
Oldham had Dewsbury in a stranglehold and – with the pressure building – Paga slotted in a grubber kick into space which Zac Baker pounced on to extend the score.
Ridyard added another two through a penalty and matters got worse for Dewsbury, shortly after, when Paul Sykes was sin-binned for clobbering Paga after he released the ball.
Ridyard put another two over and then Hartley could have had another if McNally’s pass was an inch further ahead.
Dewsbury piled on the pressure and a cross-field kick fell into the hands of Davey Dixon who scored a try, which made for a nervy final ten minutes.
Oldham thought they had secured the victory when Owen Restall couldn’t catch Ridyard’s swerving kick, but then, agonisingly, Oldham knocked on themselves.
Buoyed by the mistake, Dewsbury came piling forward and Restall – who had been quiet all game – provided a great pass which set Bailey O’Connor off for a try as Dewsbury snatched a two point lead with a minute to go.
But a Dewsbury brain explosion – as Jordan Paga was tackled in the air – allowed Ridyard to level the scores through a penalty kick with seconds to spare in a game which Roughyeds were unfortunate to not win.
Scorers:
Oldham: goals, Ridyard 5/7; tries, Ah Van, McNally, Hartley, Baker. Dewsbury: goals, Sykes 5/5; tries, Graham, Beckett, Dixon, O’Connor.
Teams:
OLDHAM: McNally; Hartley, Morgan, Ah Van; Ridyard, Paga; Meadows, Wilkinson, Nelmes, Cameron, Baker, Whittel. Subs: Slater, Wilson, Brierley, Moran (all used). 18th Man: Dom Newton.
DEWSBURY: Restall; Carr, O’Connor, Greensmith, Frewin; Sykes, Turner; Beckett, Butterworth, R. Dixon, Garside, Graham, Davies. Subs: D. Dixon, Morris, Ferguson, Walker (all used). 18th Man: Collinson
Referee: Matt Rossleigh; HT: 20-14; Pens: 8-4; Att: 1,295
