Oldham Match Report

Promotion chasing Oldham simply too good for the Bears

COVENTRY BEARS 0 OLDHAM 60

Mike Hyde, Butts Park Arena, Sunday

This was the first ever visit to the Butts Park Arena for Oldham, and after six consecutive wins they were determined to keepup that record and place pressure on the top two. They did just that with an eleven try blitz and a comprehensive all-round display. It was alsoone of those games where, try as they do, the Bears simply couldn’t get into the game.

Strength in depth allowed the visitors torest ever-present Danny Bridge, and also call on Dual Registration players from Super League Salford. The Bears had nosuch luxuries, such is life for a club developing the game and local talent away from the games heartlands.

After a spell of early pressure and some good passing moves a space was created for Oldham’s Ben Davies to cross from a few yards out and Paul Crook’s conversion followed.

On eleven minutes, a flowing move culminated with Benjamin West receiving the ball on the right wing and running intothe space created for his first try. This time Crook hit the upright and no more was added. Some flowing play followed from the visitors, but a forward pass prevented a certain try and the Bears were off the hook.

Coventry defended valiantly but then allowed Mathew Wilkinson to add an easy try from close quarters and the simplest of conversions was set up for Crooks.

Next over for Oldham was Craig Briscoe on 27 minutes, and the conversion put the score at 0-22.

The visitors were now in the ascendancy and Dany Langtree sliced through Coventry’s defence despite the best efforts of the two Bears hanging on to him as he powered over.

Danyal Rasool was the next name to go on the scoresheet over on the right, and although no extras were added, the score was now 0-32, and that margin remained as the half time hooter sounded.

The Bears came out with more spirit, andwere within five yards of the line before their last pass was intercepted and they found themselves scrambling back to defend desperately once more.

A tricky kick put Crook over as Oldham returned totry scoring ways with the half just six minutes oldto add to his increasing points tally.

James Guertjens did his best to inspire the Bears with some hard driving runs, but the home side’s attacks invariably broke down, and they found themselves on the back foot, with holes being torn into their defence.

After a rather soggy spell of play under the bright sun, Langtree added his second of the afternoon after a furious spell of pressure. Once again Crook made no mistake with the extras.

A dazzling run by fullback Kyran Johnson added to the Bears misery as he dived flambuoyantly over the lineand the conversion put the score on the half century mark.

The ninth name on the scoresheet was David Hewitt after a piercing run.

Briscoe added his second with five minutes remaining as Oldham recorded their seventh victory in a row, and Coventry Bears were left with just one league victory so far this season, and tough games coming up away at Hunslet and Newcastle.

MATCHFACTS

BEARS

1 Harry Chapma

2Jamahl Hunte

3Jason Bass

21 Kam Pearce Paul

5 Errol Carter

6Paul Emanuelli

7 Ben Stead

8James Guertjens

9 Zac Williams

10Peter Ryan

11 Ben Gray

12 Chris Barratt

13Chris Vitalini

Subs (all used)

14 Liam Rice Wilson

15James Mason

16Malakhi Lloyd-Jones

17John Aldred

Tries:

Goals:

OLDHAM

1 Kyran Johnson

28 Lee Kershaw

4 Jack Holmes

3 Matt Reid

30 Benjamin West

6 Paul Crook

7 David Hewitt

8 Phil Joy

9 Gareth Owen

18 Benjamin Davies

11 Craig Briscoe

12 Dany Langtree

24 Liam Bent

Subs (all used)

23 Luke Nelmes

20 Matthew Wilkinson

22 Danyal Rasool

29 Zack McComb

Tries:B Davies (4), West (11), Wilkinson (21), Briscoe (27,75),Langtree(33, 58), Rasool (37) Crook (46),Johnson (63), Hewitt (70)

Goals:Crook 8/11

Penalty count: 7-9

Half-time: 0-32

Referee: S Race

Attendance: 337

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10,0-16, 0-22,0-28, 0-32; 0-38, 0-44, 0-50,0-56, 0-60