TWO first-half tries by right-wing Mo Agoro set the scene as OLDHAM pulled off a major coup with a 24-20 win against holders Halifax in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup (group stage) at Boundary Park today.
Roughyeds went a long way to qualifying for the straight-draw quarter-final with those two tries by Agoro, others by centres Jordan Turner and Ben O’Keefe and four goals by half-back Jamie Ellis, three of them from out wide and two off the touchline.
Fax also scored four tries but their goal-kicking didn’t match Ellis’s and in the final analysis that was the big difference between two well-matched sides — a tribute to the League One side who were just as good. If not better, than their Championship opponents.
“We owed a lot to the forwards, but the game management of our halves was outstanding,”
said coach Sean Long, a reference, perhaps, to the way they constantly trapped Panthers in the corner in the second half.
Fax wouldn’t go away. They were always on Oldham coat tails but they never once enjoyed the lead and one cannot speak too highly of the home side’s resolve, their ability to play good rugby and their fitness.
A full match report by KASEY SMITH will appear later.
