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Dewsbury Rams 12 Oldham Roughyeds 58

Keith Potter
14/ 5/2008

SUMMER rugby arrived with a bang as Oldham turned on their best display of the season in perfect conditions to reach the last eight of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Coach Steve Deakin must have been immensely satisfied with this performance as Oldham played to their potential with Mick Nanyn picking up 26 points by way of two tries and some immaculate kicking.

Lucas Onyango looked like returning to his old self, Phil Joseph performed powerfully throughout and Neil Roden displayed some beautiful handling, although the men-of-the-match were Tommy Goulden for his four tries and James Coyle for an all-round display.

From Oldham’s first try in the sixth minute, courtesy of Coyle, it was largely one-way traffic with a combination of good, simple rugby league football and near immaculate goalkicking racking up the points.

Following Coyle’s early try, the Rams put Oldham under pressure and levelled the scores when, on the last tackle, Walker went over for a converted try.

Oldham then gained the ascendancy as Coyle, who caused big problems for the Dewsbury defence, sent in Tommy Goulden for his first try.

Goulden’s second, again converted by Nanyn, then sent the Roughyeds in at the break with an 18-6 advantage.

An excellent restart saw Goulden cross for his hat-trick as a result of Roden’s beautiful pass before classic centre play from Nanyn put Onyango away to score in the corner, Nanyn converting both to make it 30-6.

The Roughyeds kept up the pressure on their hosts as Goulden went over for a fourth try and Coyle for a second, both goaled by Nanyn.

It was Nanyn’s turn to cross next following Onyango’s break down the left-hand side and a cut pass inside which allowed the centre to storm over and add the extras.

There was some brief respite for the Rams as Dominic Maloney forced his way over, Walker converting, but Nanyn’s second try and a late effort from Richard Mervill brought Oldham victory.