Dixon back with a bang as resilient Roughyeds beat Eagles

Oldham moved to within two points of the Championship leaders as Kieran Dixon and Matty Ashurst scored two tries each in a 24-12 win over Sheffield on the Roughyeds' return to Boundary Park.

Winger Dixon marked his return from a broken arm with a 12-point haul as forward Ashurst grabbed a quick-fire double and prop Owen Farnworth pounced late on to clip the Eagles' wings when the visitors threatened a comeback.

It was a third win in a row for Sean Long's side and one that strengthens their position in a congested top four.

"We showed some real resilience, which got us over the line," Long told Roughyeds TV, after Sheffield had fought back from a 20-4 half-time deficit.

Sheffield played really well and only made one error in that second half. We gave up too much possession, two many yardage errors and poor discipline, and they can hurt you. They peppered our line and the lads really worked hard for each other."

Long handed a debut to half-back Morgan Smith, signed from Sheffield during the week in a move that saw former Roughyeds Danny Craven make an immediate Boundary Park return in Eagles colours. There were starts for vice captain Matty Wildie and Dixon after long-term injuries, while prop Gil Dudson was ruled out through illness on the day of the game. Young French winger Mathieu Pons was handed a rest while injuries sidelined forwards George Hirst and Ryan Lannon.

Oldham hit the front on a scorching hot Oldham day when Ashurst crashed over and Dixon converted for a 6-0 lead. The second row grabbed his second try a minute later when the impressive Ben Davies plucked a Josh Drinkwater kick out of the sky for Ashurst to convert.

From 10-0 ahead, Oldham penalties allowed Sheffield a spell of possession and winger Ryan Millar was the spare man out wide to cross in the corner, reducing the arrears to 10-4.

That prompted Oldham's best spell of the game as a powerful Davies break in front of the Joe Royle Stand sent Dixon scampering clear to mark his return with a try, and the winger added his second before the break for a commanding 20-4 advantage.

But the Eagles came out firing after the interval, Craven targeting Mo Agoro with a succession of spiral bombs, and helping himself to a try after Eloi Pelissier's wild pass on half-way evaded Agoro's grasp and allowed the veteran a clear run to the corner.

Sheffield missed both conversions to remain 12-adrift but gained a further foothold in the game when Kris Welham marked his 100th Eagles appearance with an opportunist try in the right corner after a spot of pinball on the last tackle. Craven missed the kick but Sheffield were back within eight points at 20-12.

Having withstood a barrage of second-half pressure, Oldham knew one more try would clinch it and it was made by Adam Milner. The former Castelford man drove straight through the Sheffield line to send Farnworth in to the left of the posts, Dixon bizarrely cannoning a simple conversion back off the uprights which in truth didn't matter.

This was not a perfect Oldham performance, but another display of resilience and defensive togetherness to secure a victory that sees the Roughyeds further flex their muscles in the Championship top four, ahead of Friday's huge trip to Bradford Bulls.

One concern was the substitution of Ashurst with a tight hamstring, which the medical staff will hope was just a precaution with a quick turnaround before the game in West Yorkshire.

"We haven't put an 80-minute performance together all year apart from York at home," said Long, whose side are now level on points with third-placed Bradford and just two behind York and Toulouse at the top.

"As soon as we do that then someone is in for a good hiding."