04/08/2024
AT risk of incurring the wrath of Sean Long, who will argue that you pay ALL opponents the respect they undoubtedly deserve, I say OLDHAM are now hot favourites to finish top of Betfred League One.
It seems the fans are thinking that way too, judging by what they say to me. Consecutive wins against chief rivals Keighley Cougars and our derby rivals in red, white and blue, the in-form Rochdale Hornets, puts us three points clear at the top with a points differential of 489 compared with second-placed Keighley’s 278.
It means that even if the Bronte men win each of their five remaining games – and admittedly Oldham have still to go to Cougar Park where they lost last time.
Long’s lion-hearts have to be turned over twice – and four of their last five games are at home, where they are uneaten this season.
Roughyeds have won 14 of their 15 games overall and they have the best defensive figures, among the men, in the three divisions in England and in Australia. They know how to make their line a minefield in the NRL, but their average figures don’t match Oldham’s.
TO CONCEDE ONLY 132 POINTS IN 15 OUTINGS (AN AVERAGE OF LESS THAN NINE PER GAME) IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
Hats off to Sean, whose Roughyeds have also scored 621 points which is the best in the division by nearly 100 points.
Whichever way you look at it, Sean’s men are on course to go up automatically . . . as our wonderful fans are quick to point.
“It’s ours to lose,” said one. “We are champions elect now, “ said another.
A third, female, added: “Standing on the Sandy Lane end at Rochdale last Sunday, in a sea of red and white, it felt just like the old days at Watersheddings. That’s some compliment. We enjoyed every minute of a fantastic derby. Please pass that on to the powers-that-be.”
It’s my pleasure to do just that – and to finish with this:
The attendance of 2,178 was Rochdale’s biggest since 2007 and their best-ever for a League One game at the Crown Oil Arena