Sean Long hailed his side’s most professional performance of the season as Cian Tyrer’s six tries fired Oldham top of the table in a 62-0 win at Hunslet.
Tyrer’s lightning finishing and a dominant display from the Roughyeds pack laid the platform for an 11-try demolition at a venue on which Oldham had not won for five years, and takes Long’s men top of the early League 1 standings.
“It was a big statement,”
the head coach told Roughyeds TV after a third straight win.
“We hadn’t won here for a while and a dogged Hunslet team had a crack at us, so that was a really good performance and something to build on.
“I thought it was our most professional performance of the season. We will set our standards even higher now.”
Oldham handed a debut on the bench to Super League starlet Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e and were forced to field a new line-up on the wings as Tyrer and Mackenzie Turner replaced the injured Mo Agoro and Ben O’Keefe.
Tyrer took his opportunity in electrifying fashion with four tries before half-time.
First the former Wigan youngster pounced to touch down a Danny Craven kick as Hunslet hesitated, before adding a second with a smart finish on the last tackle. Captain Jordan Turner sent Tyrer in for his third after destructive play down the middle from Craig Kopczak and Adam Lawton, and the fourth came with a dazzling step and finish as Oldham led 24-0 at the break - Jamie Ellis flawless with the boot from out wide.
Having had a strong wind against them for the first half, Hunslet may have hoped to gain some ascendency at the turnaround, but it got even worse for the hosts.
The imperious Turner sent Tyrer in for his fifth, and the captain was again the supply line as he broke from deep to gift Tyrer his double hat-trick. That shattered Hunslet, as Lawton stretched over for another, Laulu-Togaga’e finished off a fine break for a debut try, Kian Morgan powered over and Logan Astley grabbed two quick-fire tries of his own.
The 62 points pleased Long, but it was the shutout at the other end that was most satisfying for the Roughyeds boss.
“I told the boys I want to keep them to zero, that’s the main objective,” Long added.
“I said I wasn’t bothered if we won 12 or 8-0 as long as it’s a nil.
“I thought our middles laid the platform and Lawton and the spine played really well, providing the service for the left edge who put on a clinic at times.“
Long also hailed the debut of Laulu Togaga’e and believes the exciting youngster will be a big crowd-puller for the club, starting at home to Cornwall next Sunday.
“PLT is absolutely electric. We have only seen thirty minutes of him and we are going to see a bit more of him hopefully.”
Hunslet: Watson, Goddard, Oakley, Ferreira, Kudangirana, Williams, Gaylor, Hallas, Whitmore, Knowles, Jordan- Roberts, Levy, Syme. Subs: Berry, Everett, O’Hanlon, Spencer-Tonks.
Oldham: Astley, Tyrer, Turner, Morgan, Turner, Craven, Ellis, Kopczak, Wildie, Farnworth, Wardle, Lawton, J Chapelhow. Subs: Laulu-Togaga’e, T Chapelhow, Hirst, Johnson.
Scorers:
Oldham:
Tries: Tyrer 6, Astley 2, Lawton, Laulu-Togaga’e, Morgan. Goals: Ellis 4, Craven 3, Tyrer 2.
