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Oldham Roughyeds 38 Rochdale Hornets 14

Gavin Browne
22/ 9/2008

SEVEN tries sent Oldham into Sunday's National League Two Grand Final as the Roughyeds overcame Rochdale Hornets at Boundary Park.

Darren Shaw's side had gone into the game with nine wins from 10 matches, but they found Oldham in determined mood following their defeat against Doncaster the week before.

Steve Deakin’s Oldham team produced some excellent play in attack and defence, shutting Hornets out in the second half having trailed 14-12 at the break.

The first half in particular was a feisty affair with Oldham seeking to make home advantage count and Rochdale attempting a third consecutive win on the road.

It was the Roughyeds who struck first blood, taking the lead through Mick Nanyn's penalty before crossing for the first of their tries. Although James Coyle's pass to Marcus St Hilaire looked forward, the officials let play continue, the ex-Bradford man finding the supporting Richard Mervill who crossed, Nanyn with the extras.

Having seen Matty Brooks unable to hang onto Danny Halliwell's pass with the line beckoning, Oldham's lead was cut to six points as Carl Sneyd kicked his first goal of the afternoon.

Nevertheless, the Roughyeds looked to be well in charge when Coyle's towering kick to the corner was collected by Gareth Langley for their second try and a 12-2 advantage.

However, their optimism was cut short as Rochdale established a half-time lead thanks to two tries in four minutes. Paul Alcock burrowed his way over, followed by Janan Billings' try on the left-hand side, and with Sneyd adding the extras, it was the Hornets who led at the break.

If any Oldham fans were shifting nervously in their seats during the interval, their team put them at ease with three tries in 15 minutes.

Langley plucked another Coyle kick out of the air before spinning and touching down, Tommy Goulden withstood defensive pressure to score, while Coyle danced one way and then the other before going under the posts.

Nanyn converted two of those three tries to make it 28-14 midway through the half as Oldham, for whom Brooks, Phil Joseph and Adam Robinson were outstanding, went for Hornets' collective throat.

Although there were a couple of hairy moments near the Oldham line, terrific defensive play kept Rochdale out before two tries in seven minutes sealed victory.

Daryl Cardiss took Nanyn's pass to score in the left-hand corner, the same two players then combining for Goulden's second score. Nanyn converted the latter try to make it five kicks for the afternoon and leave Oldham facing Doncaster on Sunday, knowing promotion is 80 minutes away.