By Ian Golden at The Gnoll
A Mark Hobson try on the final hooter clinched a 36-32 win for Oldham Roughyeds in a classic game against South Wales Scorpions at The Gnoll on Sunday.
The Scorpions will have to be content with a bonus point but they know they really should have taken all three.
The home side took the lead in the fourth minute when skipper Joe Burke dived over from close range. Jack Murphy converted.
The lead increased on 11 minutes when after a fine passing move, Connor Farrer burst through. Murphy missed the kick. 10-0 up
James Greenwood ran over 30 metres giving all his markers the slip to score Scorpions’ third try on 15 minutes. Murphy goaled to make the score 16-0.
But Oldham turned the game on its head and scored three tries in the space of eight minutes.
First, Jason Boults, with virtually his first touch of the ball after coming on as substitute, slipped through the Scorpions defence.
Then after winning a goal-line drop-out, the ball worked its way over to Jon Ford who grounded in the corner. Lewis Palfrey converted both and the score was 16-12.
They levelled on 25 minutes when Ford went over for his second. Palfrey’s goal gave them the lead for the first time in the game.
Scorpions should have received a penalty from their next attack when Shae Lyon Fraser looked to have shoulder charged off the ball, but no officials spotted it and play continued.
Oldham’s lead was extended on 35 minutes. Palfrey kicked a cheeky grubber and the Scorpions defence were too slow to stop Ford nip in for his hat-trick. Palfrey goaled then extended the Roughyeds’ lead even further just before the interval as he kicked a penalty goal to make the score 26-16.
However the home side almost had a try back as the hooter blew as Connor Farrer made a 50 metre dart to the try-line, but 10 metres before his target he was sent to the floor.
New signing Billy Sheen entered the field at half-time and started to try and cause trouble but his route was blocked on two occasions by the now tight Roughyeds back-line. Greenwood was also thwarted when looking for a way through.
Dalton Grant was also unfortunate as he unusually mishandled Lyon Fraser’s pass on a break for the line.
Scorpions eventually got over the line on 57 minutes when Farrer dived over from dummy half. Murphy converted to bring the score back to 22-26.
Oldham struck back again and Ford firmly cemented his man of the match status by scoring his fourth, and Oldham’s fifth. The try was in the corner and Palfrey was just wide with his conversion attempt.
But Scorpions were back in the game straight away when James Tutuila twisted and turned through the Oldham line to ground just wide of the sticks. Murphy hit the post with his goal attempt.
Then on 68 minutes, the score was level as Lyon Fraser avoided tackles from at least four Roughyeds players to score an outstanding try. This time Murphy’s kicking was accurate and Scorpions regained the lead at 32-30.
Both sides then looked for a winner. Ford was denied a fifth but the Roughyeds regained the ball from a goal-line drop-out. From that they won a penalty and Palfrey made no mistake kicking from in front of the sticks to level the scores.
Scorpions then had a perfect chance with three minutes to go but didn’t take it. Burke ran 30 metres but was caught by the Oldham defence, failing to notice Billy Sheen up with him and ready to receive a pass.
But Oldham clinched it on the hooter. Palfrey missed a drop-goal attempt but from the next play Mark Hobson sprinted down the wing for the winner.
Before the main match, Neath and District Scorpions beat Cardiff Demons 42-4 at under 13 level while there were three games in the South Wales Evening Post Primary Schools Cup which were also played as part of the day’s events. The scores, one point per try scored, were MN Crimson Crusaders 1 Cardiff Demons 0, Waunceirch Warriors 1 Cardiff Demons 0 and Waunceirch Warriors 1 MN Crimson Crusaders 0.