ROUGHYEDS were left to regret their missed opportunities as Dewsbury took the two points with a 20-8 win at the FLAIR Stadium.
It was a close contest with both sides battling hard for the victory, but Roughyeds, ultimately, were made to pay for their earlier errors in possession.
Oldham’s wingers, Nick Rawsthorne and Tommy Brierley, both got on the scoresheet, but some smarter play when Roughyeds were in the ascendancy and they could have been in for more.
Dewsbury capitalised on Oldham’s failure to make the chances count and it was the Rams who went ahead two scores in front at the break.
Roughyeds fixed up their errors in the second forty, but they struggled to gain sufficient field position to put Rams under the cosh.
It took ten minutes for the first score of the game after Rams capitalised on a forward pass when Brad Graham scored from a Calum Turner grubber kick.
The Rams try came just minutes after Oldham thought they were in when Harvey Wilson dived for the line, which the referee ruled out.
The momentum swung instantly, though, thanks to an exquisite Martyn Ridyard kick, who put in another great performance, and Oldham had the ball back straight from the kick-off.
But the chance went begging when the ball fell just short of Brierley, who was closing in on the wing.
Another huge Ridyard kick came shortly after, and a pearler of a pass by Gregg McNally looked to have put Rawsthorne in, but he could not keep hold of the ball.
Ridyard then hit a massive 40/20 kick, but Harvey Wilson came up just short as he went to score.
Roughyeds finally found a way in, and it was another sublime pass by McNally who put another ball towards Rawsthorne who, this time, held on as he dived over in the corner.
They were nearly in again when Tom Forber, who had a great game, flew out of dummy half and caught the Rams defenders totally off guard.
But as he looked to set a teammate away, the ball came loose as he was tackled and that split second decision was cruelly punished as Dewsbury got their second score moments later through Sykes.
Another high hanging Ridyard kick forced a knock on from Owen Restall, but as Zac Baker attempted to put Brierley in, the ball sailed out of play.
Then, just before the half-time hooter went, Rams inflicted even more damage when Connor Davies went in from close range.
Roughyeds were determined and right from the kick off, they re-claimed possession and Rawsthorne went close, but was held up.
Oldham kept building pressure and it eventually paid off when Brierley pounced on Ridyard’s grubber kick in the corner.
Rams came back, though, and Ronan Dixon was held up before they added another two points to their 18 after being awarded a penalty 20 metres out.
There were some huge defensive efforts in the remaining stages with neither side able to find a way in.
The victory sent Dewsbury 8 points clear of Oldham, with the play-offs now the most likely destination for Stuart Littler’s men.
Roughyeds will be encouraged with the amount of chances created but will know that come knock-out rugby, the errors will have to be abated.
Scorers: Oldham: goals, Ridyard 0/2; tries, Rawsthorne, Brierley
Dewsbury: goals, Sykes 4/4; tries, Graham, Sykes, Davies
Teams: OLDHAM: McNally; Rawsthorne, Carr, Ah Van, Brierley; Ridyard, Paga; Wilson, Wilkinson, Nelmes, Baker, Meadows, Whittel. Subs: Forber, Hirst, Newton, Moran (all used). 18th Man: Cameron.
DEWSBURY: Restall; Carr, Jordan, Greensmith, Whiteley; Sykes, Turner; Beckett, Butterworth, Maher, Garside, Graham, Collinson. Subs: O’Connor, Dixon, Morris, Davies (all used). 18th Man: Walker.
Referee: Brad Milligan; HT: 18-4; Pens: 3-10.
