By Ian Golden at Whitebank Stadium
There was no appearance for Andy Powell for South Wales Scorpions on Sunday as injuries caused the Welsh to capitulate after half-time at Oldham Roughyeds, losing 52-22 and allowing the home side to go top of Championship 1 as a result.
The former Wales rugby union international was pulled out of the side at 11am on Sunday morning citing a rib injury and Scott Taylor, another Wigan dual-registered player, was quickly drafted into replace him, after Scorpions’ proposed 18th man withdrew the night before for personal reasons.
It was an exciting end to end first half with some good attacking play from each side, but Oldham ran away with proceedings after the interval.
The Scorpions had been doing well and were on an even keel with the Oldham side. But Tom Morgan, Shae Lyon-Fraser and James Greenwood were both pulled off at half-time through injuries and with a stomach bug affecting George Clarke, he was only able to play little more than 20 minutes.
That left Scorpions coach Dave Clark with one substitute for the final 40 minutes and that coupled with attacking “up the slope”, the new league leaders ran riot as a result.
Scorpions took the lead on four minutes when George Williams set up Ben Moores to go over from short range. Jack Murphy converted.
Oldham were level four minutes later after Sam Gee opened up a gap for Lewis Palfrey who ran 20 metres through the centre converting his own try.
Scorpions soon regained their lead. Shae Lyon-Fraser laid the perfect pass over to Alex Jones who outran a number of Roughyeds players down the wing to score. Murphy kicked the difficult conversion.
But it was soon level again. Nathan Mason, with his first touch of the ball after coming on as substitute, racing under the sticks and Palfrey converting.
Oldham took the lead midway through the first half after Sam Gee crashed over the line and grounded despite being under pressure. Palfrey’s kick was again good and score went to 18-12.
Scorpions fought back. This time it was Jones who was the provider who slipped the ball to Lyon Fraser who scored in the corner. This time Murphy missed the tricky kick and Oldham held a slender 18-16 lead.
The Welsh looked for a fourth after World Cup hopeful Dalton Grant made an outstanding run through the centre. Murphy backed him up but there was no-one in space to receive the final kick from George Williams.
However the Scorpions took the lead again just before the half-time hooter. It was another great run, this time from Murphy. He found Billy Sheen in space and the try machine did what he does best and raced under the sticks.
After the break, the Roughyeds started to score with every set and rendered the Scorpions try-less.
It took just three minutes of the second half for Roughyeds to level things up again. David Cookson with the try in the corner with Palfrey missing the conversion.
And three minutes later the home side took the lead with Josh Crawley scoring in the corner after a fine set of six. Palfrey converted to give them a 28-22 lead.
Adam Files followed him over in similar fashion after a similar interval. Palfrey converted again and had Mo Agoro not dropped a pass when the line was begging, the Scorpions would have been three tries behind.
But it was just a blip as from their next attack, Neil Roden twisted his way through the backline to score their fourth try of the half. Palfrey converted again.
There could have been a fifth but the grafter of Scorpions’ Tongan international that is James Tutuila refused to let Agoro over the line.
Even when Scorpions did get into the Oldham half they couldn’t break through. Joe Burke went on a determined run but with little support, the Scorpions’ skipper’s enthusiasm came to nothing.
Oldham eventually scored again on 73 minutes. Josh Crawley charged through the Scorpions with too much ease and Palfrey was ready to receive the pass to score before converting.
Crawley completed the job right on full time with Oldham’s sixth try of the half and ninth of the game with Palfrey kicking the successful goal.
“Things went against us in the second half,” said Scorpions coach Dave Clark. “We had those three injuries and George Clarke did well to take the field the way he was feeling. We didn’t have any subs for most of the second half and we defending up the hill. It was really tough and we weren’t given a chance.
“To lose Andy Powell just hours before the game was disappointing too. He’d picked up a rib injury, was tested by the Wigan staff and wasn’t 100%. He’s being well looked after there and they’ll get him right.
“But I was pleased with the way we played in the first half. We showed that on a virtual even keel we could hold our own against one of the best in the league.”