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Oldham Roughyeds 20 Doncaster 32

Gavin Browne
15/ 9/2008

ROCHDALE Hornets now stand between Oldham and a place in this season's Co-operative National League Two Grand Final following the Roughyeds' defeat against Doncaster on Sunday.

The Roughyeds surrendered their 19-match unbeaten run at home at the worst possible time, leaving them to face Darren Shaw's in-form Hornets in a winner-takes-all tie this weekend.

Victory was due reward for Ellery Hanley's side, the Yorkshiremen showing greater speed and invention with Luke Gale rattling up a personal haul of 20 points.

While Oldham were at times ponderous in attack, Doncaster moved the ball at speed and regularly capitalised on field position.

Three tries in 16 minutes saw them open up an 18-0 advantage, much to the shock of most of the crowd at Boundary Park.

Zebastian Luisi crossed for Doncaster's first try before Gale chipped in with two of his own, the second a beauty following good work from Corey Lawrie and Kyle Wood. Gale added all three conversions to leave Doncaster sitting pretty and Oldham in need of a quick reply.

Having seen Tommy Goulden spill a low pass a metre from the Doncaster line, Oldham almost got back on level terms before the break with three tries of their own, coming in a frenetic 11-minute spell.

Marcus St Hilaire collected a misplaced pass to run 70 metres, Paul O'Connor took Neil Roden's pass to score, while Phil Joseph touched down just before the break. Danny Halliwell converted two of the tries, but half-time came just at the wrong time for the Roughyeds as they were starting to get on top.

Gale's fourth successful kick put Doncaster 20-16 up seven minutes into the second half as Oldham's indiscipline got the better of them. There may have been some questionable decisions by referee Ben Thaler but the Oldham players should have realised they were walking on thin ice.

An incident which saw Luisi stretchered from the field was placed on report, while Oldham skipper Rob Roberts was spoken to on more than one occasion.

Both sides swapped tries, Andreas Bauer for Doncaster and Lucas Onyango for Oldham, giving the Roughyeds hope at 24-20 down. However, another Gale penalty put Doncaster six points ahead before Wayne Riettie's try and Gale's conversion sealed their passage into the Grand Final.

In contrast, Oldham have to dust themselves down and prepare to face the 'old enemy' at Boundary Park on Sunday.