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Swinton Lions 20-38 Oldham
20/ 8/2008
A COMFORTABLE win means Oldham have at least a home play-off tie to look forward to, if not an outside chance of automatic promotion.
They had far too much skill and pace for a struggling Swinton side, and with all their injury problems, this was a good performance from the visitors.
After a start to the game which saw both teams guilty of handling mistakes, a Swinton dropout led to some Oldham pressure which ended with Marcus St Hilaire showing outstanding pace to score wide out from Neil Roden’s kick.
A similar situation at the other end saw Martin Moana stopped just short of the line as enthusiastic play from the Lions put Oldham on the back foot.
Following the sinbinning of Oldham centre Michael Brown, Swinton got on the scoreboard when centre Chris Hull jinked his way through the Roughyeds’ weakened defence to score an unconverted try. However, Oldham then retook the lead when good attacking play saw Ian Hodson storm over and Danny Halliwell’s conversion give them a 10-4 lead.
The try of the match then arrived when top class centre play from Brown put Lucas Onyango away down the touchline. His inside pass found Phil Joseph who subsequently put Luke Menzies in for an excellent try, goaled by Halliwell to give the Roughyeds a 12-point advantage at the interval.
They enjoyed the perfect start to the second half when the impressive full-back Paul O’Connor broke before putting in a teasing kick for Brown to touch down. Hodson’s beautiful pass then put Brown away before he sent Onyango flying in at the corner to put Oldham 26-4 up and end the game.
To their credit though, Swinton maintained their enthusiasm which was rewarded when Moana sent Liam McGovern over for a converted try. However, Oldham hit back when James Coyle’s bomb was cleverly taken by St Hilaire for his second try. That was followed by a well deserved try for man-of-the-match O’Connor.
Trailing 38-10, it was the home side who ended with a flourish with two late tries of their own as a tired Oldham side relaxed after a job well done. Hull went over for his second of the afternoon, while Andy Saywell also crossed, McGovern adding a conversion.
IT remains mathematically possible for the Roughyeds to claim the second automatic promotion spot, but it requires Barrow to lose their final two games at Swinton on Saturday and at Doncaster next Wednesday, along with victory for Oldham against Workington at Boundary Park on Sunday.
Should the Roughyeds finish third, they will be at home to the fourth-placed finishers in the play-offs on September 14, the winners progressing straight to the Grand Final a fortnight later.
See This week's Oldham Advertiser for Co-operative National League Two table
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