VICTORY slipped through Oldham’s fingers after another Doncaster fightback stole the points when Roughyeds fell to a 22-28 defeat at the Vestacare Stadium.
Oldham had been leading 22-6 shortly after the break, despite not being at their swashbuckling best, but Doncaster were invited back in through knock ons and untidy end to sets.
Oldham had to do a lot of defending early on, but gained a two score lead with their first two attacks.
That defensive work was maximised, though, in the second half as Roughyeds completed at just 58% and Doncaster capitalised on some tired bodies.
The South Yorkshire side dealt with the conditions a lot better than Oldham when the heavens opened in the second half, in complete contrast to the sunshine in the first forty.
There were chances for Oldham in that second period, but they could not build any momentum with sloppy last plays and loose carries.
Doncaster started the game brightly and they were denied a try early on when Gregg McNally, at the second attempt, collected the long kick.
That early Dons pressure was totally swung on its head when Martyn Ridyard produced a sublime 40/20 kick which set the platform for Harvey Wilson – on a four-week dual-registration from Wigan – to hammer his way over under the posts.
Then, Oldham could have had another when Ridyard put in a low-driven kick after a huge Connor Carr carry, but Dons escorted it over the line.
Roughyeds found Connor Robinson’s high kicks tough to handle all afternoon, and it was the failure to catch his high-hanger which got them their response through Misi Taulapapa.
But Oldham shifted the momentum yet again, when a huge kick by Ridyard, off the goal-line drop-out, hammered its way past every Dons defender and out of play for a 20/40.
In the subsequent set, as they looked to double their score, Ridyard’s pass cannoned off Carr and the danger was averted.
After a Dons illegal ball steal, Jordan Paga produced a brilliant, deceptive run as he evaded the Dons tacklers which paved the way for a Kian Morgan try.
Morgan, it is worth mentioning, has been in blinding form in recent weeks and put in another strong stint.
He was in for his second when he linked up with Paga, again, to score off the back of a goal-line drop-out, after a great run by Deane Meadows.
After the break, with just three minutes gone, Oldham extended their advantage when the towering Samy Kibula batted away three Doncaster defenders and set Matty Wilkinson off on a marauding run from dummy-half all the way to score a try.
It was all going so well, but then the mistakes creeped in.
A loose carry, right from the kick off, meant Oldham were on the back foot when they should have been piling on the pressure themselves.
Sam Smeaton went in for a try in the corner when, on the last tackle, he surprised everybody and sneaked in to score in the corner.
Oldham then went close when Paga drove for the line after a show and go, but he could not hold on to the ball.
Roughyeds could not build any pressure off the back of some strong carries, on two occasions, with unorganised end to sets.
Doncaster took the invitations and Robinson put in an inch-perfect, low-driven kick which made it easy for Brad Hey to get them to within just one score.
Another Oldham loose carry, close to their own line, was a sickener and Misi Taulapapa inflicted further damage when he dived over in the corner.
Doncaster smelt blood and as Brett Ferres broke through the line, he found Ben Johnston in the middle to score under the sticks as they took the lead for the first time, with just four minutes left on the clock.
Roughyeds responded, and they had a six again deep in Dons territory when they held on too long in the tackle after Kian Morgan bolted up the field.
McNally could not hold on to the ball, though, as he darted towards the try-line.
There was time for one last flurry after some terrific work forced Taulapapa in touch – but the grubber kick, after the hooter had gone, could only be batted dead.
Written off at the start of the season as fifth favourites, Oldham have turned heads in recent weeks and have been hot on the heels of both Dewsbury and Doncaster.
But Roughyeds will be dismayed how, for the third time, they have come up just short against a Doncaster side that were second best for large parts.
There may well be another twist in the tale, should the two sides meet again in the play-offs.
For now, the focus is on Friday night where Roughyeds look to claw back some points against table-toppers Dewsbury.
Scorers: Oldham: goals, Ridyard 3/4; tries, Wilson, Morgan x2, Wilkinson
Doncaster: goals, Robinson 4/5; tries, Taulapapa x2, Smeaton, Hey, Johnston
Teams:
OLDHAM: McNally; Rawsthorne, Carr, Morgan, Ah Van; Ridyard, Paga; Wilson, Wilkinson, Nelmes, Baker, Meadows, Whittel. Subs: Slater, Kibula, Newton, Moran (all used). 18th Man: Hirst.
DONCASTER: Guzdek; Halliday, Hey, Tali, Taulapapa; Johnston, Robinson; Cooper, Burns, Foster, Smeaton, Ferres, McConnell. Subs: Kenga, Knowles, Roberts, Whitmore (all used). 18th Man: Ollet-Hobson
Referee: Nick Bennett; HT: 16-6; Pens: 3-3.
