Roughyeds in vital victory

OLDHAM inflicted a second successive away defeat on fourth-placed Toulouse to end their winless streak in spectacular style.

Steve Neild opened the scoring for the Roughyeds midway through the first half, but Dave Hewitt’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful and when the visitors crossed before the break, the home side trailed by two points at half-time.

Scott Naylor’s side came out strong in the second period and retook the lead through George Tyson, Hewitt this time able to slot the conversion.

The half-back then went on to slot two tricky penalties to extend Oldham’s lead to eight points.

That would prove vital when the French full-timers went over with 15 minutes remaining, the two-point cushion and some impressive defence from the home side enough to see out what could prove to be a vital victory for the Roughyeds.

They leapfrog SWINTON in the battle to avoid relegation, with the Lions just unable to overcome Sheffield away.

The Eagles had raced into an early 22-0 lead, but Jack Murphy grabbed a quickfire hat-trick to get John Duffy’s side back into the game. Shaun Robinson and Rhodri Lloyd scored either side of Murphy’s fourth, but it was never quite enough for the Lions.

ROCHDALE were comprehensively dispatched 40-10 by Dewsbury, who have moved above Hornets, Swinton and Oldham, into eighth position. Rob Massam and Jordan Case got the only tries for Alan Kilshaw’s side.