North Wales 30 Oldham 28

by NRL

After two narrow defeats in a row, the narrow margin this time came in favour of the North Wales Crusaders as they left it late to edge past the Oldham Roughyeds, 30-28.

Both sides welcomed back players from injury - Leon Brennan and Jono Smith for Crusaders and Neil Roden for Oldham. Leon Brennan and Neil Roden in particular were both standout performers for their respective sides.

Crusaders started on fire, taking a ten-point lead within the first ten minutes, but poor discipline around the ruck area let Oldham back into the contest as they went on to score four tries in reply. Neil Roden orchestrated most of what the visitors did well and his old, experienced head really shone through in his team's performance.

The hosts were almost ahead from the first play as Billy Sheen broke from the kick off. He was halted short of the line, but Brennan went over for his first score from the next play following some nice ball handling on the left.

The lead was increased soon after when Andy Moulsdale put Sheen through a hole and at that point, it looked as if the hosts were going to run away with it.

A penalty for Oldham eased the pressure a little and from the field position, Michael Ward hit back for them. He also claimed the plaudits for their second, Neil Roden handing him the ball to score in the corner.

Another impressive performance came from John Clough in the forwards, and his ball steel in the middle of the park set up their next try nicely. Crusaders were on the back foot and Roden was once again the supplier, slipping a neat offload to David Ellison for the score.

There was time for one last score on the hooter and Danny Whitmore found his way through the Crusaders' defence far too easily, taking Oldham into a convincing lead at the break.

The second half was a far better display from North Wales, and they were in complete dominance for long periods. Clay collected a superb Moulsdale grubber along the touchline and dived over in the corner to kick-start the scoring.

Jono Smith then marked his return to the side as he finished off a move down the middle, Simon Stephens setting him up with the pass. The try was converted which brought them to within two points of the Roughyeds, but the visitors had ideas of their own.

Neil Roden's instinctive grubber kick was perfecty weighted and Miles Greenwood claimed in-goal to score, giving them an eight-point cushion with just 15 minutes left.

Leon Brennan clinched the win with two late tries on the left flank, sending the home supporters into raptures. The assists coming Sheen and Iwan Brown on separate occasions, steering them into a two-point lead following a superb touchline conversion.

Oldham could have grabbed a late winner through David Ellison, but referee Matt Thomason pulled it back for a forward pass ? it certainly didn't impress the travelling Oldham supporters.

In a game that could have gone either, Crusaders were just about worthy winners due to an inspired second half showing.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS
1.Tommy Johnson 7
2.Adam Clay 7
3.Sam Broadbent 7
4.Leon Brennan 8
5.Rob Massam 7
6.Andy Moulsdale 7
7.Billy Sheen 7
8.Jonny Walker 7
9.Lee Hudson 8
10.Iwan Brown 8
11.Andy Gorski 7
12.Anthony Morrison 7
13.Simon Stephens 7
Subs:
18.Jono Smith 7
17.Alex Trumper 7
21.Toby Adamson 7
14.Owain Brown 7

Tries: Brennan 2, 66, 73, Sheen 11, Clay 49, Smith 53
Goals: Broadbent 1/3, Johnson 2/3

OLDHAM ROUGHYEDS
1.Miles Greenwood 7
2.Chris Holroyde 7
3.Mark Brocklehurst 7
4.Mark McCully 7
5.John Gillam 7
6.Neil Roden 8
7.Danny Whitmore 7
8.Jason Boults 7
9.Martin Roden 7
10.David Toothill 7
11.Michael Ward 7
12.Valu Bentley 7
13.Lewis Reed 7
Subs:
14.Colton Roche 7
15.John Clough 8
16.David Ellison 7
17.Liam Gilchrist 7

Tries: Ward 21, 27, Ellison 31, Whitmore 39, Greenwood 62
Goals: Holroyde 4/5

Referee: Matt Thomason
HT: 10-22
MOTM: Leon Brennan

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