Rugby League: New Oldham pass a credibility test
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Your support makes all the difference.Oldham 36 Heworth 14 The reborn Oldham club progressed to the third round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup, but the fright the amateurs of Heworth gave them in this extra qualifying match is hidden behind a deceptively comfortable scoreline.
The York-based side were deservedly ahead at half-time and had the chance immediately afterwards to stretch that lead to one that would have tested Oldham's composure, but the professionals held them off and never really looked back thereafter.
Oldham, just two games into life after the collapse of the Oldham Bears, had also started off well enough, with players like Neil Flanagan and John Hough showing their quality as they built up a 10-point lead.
Hough, the former Warrington hooker who was the new club's first signing, darted over for their first try and then Craig Barker, a classy looking young stand off, sent Sean Cooper over.
Heworth responded magnificently to those setbacks, some wonderful handling in deplorable conditions setting up Andy Gable for one try, with Steve Barnard going through a big gap for another. James Allitt's conversion and his second penalty just before the interval gave Heworth their half- time advantage.
Having survived their potential crisis, Oldham made their extra pace out wide tell in the last half hour.
Their winger Craig Diggle, scored two quick tries from close range and Cooper, their best player, showed his incisiveness in the centres by cutting through for his second, the score that took the professional team out of reach.
Their full-back, Stephen Wilde, capitalised on a tiring defence by running in an excellent solo try, and Adrian Meade gave the final score a look that did Heworth scant justice.
They had played a full part in a match that was far better than seemed possible in the foul weather. Heworth's only concession to the occasion was that their players' pounds 3 match subs were waived, but for a long time they competed on even terms with the professional outfit.
The immediate benefit for Oldham is that they now visit Widnes in the third round proper in two weeks' time. They will also take tremendous encouragement from a crowd of almost 3,000 - more than watched the Bears' last Super League match - which demonstrates that the town is solidly behind them.
Oldham: Wilde; Diggle, Meade, Cooper, McNicholas; Barker, Flanagan; Round, Hough, Maders, Quinlan, Shaw, Prescott. Substitutes used: Robinson, Ecklesley, Clegg, Fleming.
Heworth: Darling; Mercer, Gabel, Witty, Allitt; Green, Hammerton; Gatus, Wright, Plowman, Gray, Wrigglesworth, Barnard. Substitutes used: Harrison, Cregan, Briggs, Wheatley.
Referee: I Crabtree (Leeds).
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