Oldham let 18-point lead slip

OLDHAM became the latest team to experience the top-flight credentials of Kingstone Press Championship leaders Hull KR, despite a brave showing at Bower Fold.

Roughyeds started superbly against the Robins, taking the lead after three minutes when Scott Leatherbarrow broke the line and sent Joe Burke in under the sticks.

Less than five minutes later, Dave Hewitt snaffled an errant Ben Cockayne pass and raced 90m to score, before Sam Wood pounced on an error from KR winger Ryan Shaw to take Oldham into an 18-point lead.

However, the league leaders showed their class in a devastating 25-minute spell either side of halftime, scoring 32 points and taking the game away from the home side, who added a late consolation through dual-registration winger Darnell McIntosh to make it 32-24.

Swinton failed to build on last week’s win over Oldham as they slipped to a 26-12 defeat against Batley Bulldogs at Heywood Road.

The visitors opened the scoring through Shaun Ainscough and added a quickfire double just before halftime. Anthony Bate got Swinton on the board after the break when he combined superbly with Chris Atkin, but the Bulldogs responded with another two tries in 10 minutes. Andy Bracek’s late consolation added an air of respectability to the final scoreline.

Without a number of their key players, Rochdale were well beaten in France on Saturday evening, going down 56-16 against Toulouse.