Rugby League: Roughyeds give Lions a tough torrid time

Arriva Trains Cup, West Qualifying Group

LIONS scored a try within 56 seconds of the kick-off, but then surrendered the rest of the first half.

However, after the break it was a different story, as despite two sin binnings, they improved dramatically to outscore their National League One guests.

"We made them look better than they were in the first half and it doesn't help when we miss 22 tackles," Lions' coach Paul Kidd admitted.

"In the second half we showed a lot more passion. At half-time I asked for that, I asked them to win the second half and that's exactly what they did.

Oldham kicked off short and managed to get the ball, but promptly lost it again on the second tackle.

Lions put together a sweeping right wing move which saw Mark Bolton, Jason Roach and Bolton again, all handle before Phil Cushion crossed for a brilliant try.

However, five minutes into the game Oldham hit back. Simon Svabic put up a high kick just to the left of the posts, Wayne English couldn't grasp the ball cleanly in the strong wind and Jon Goddard had the simple task of touching it down over the Lions' line.

Svabic converted and added a penalty goal shortly afterwards to give Oldham a 4-8 lead.

The Oldham lead was then increased when they broke down the right wing and Lee Marsh went over for a try. Svabic made it 4-14 with the conversion.

Lions had a chance to hit back when they got a penalty for a high tackle on Danny Heaton, but as they worked the ball wide, English sent his pass flying into touch behind the advancing Roach.

Oldham then had two tries disallowed as Lions tried to hit back as the half came to a close, but after another Bolton break on the right wing, the Oldham defence re-gathered to prevent Lions clawing themselves back into the game.

With five minutes to go, an Ian Watson kick to the Lions' in-goal area saw English desperately trying to make it back into the field of play.

He didn't quite manage it, but credit to Lions, from the resulting goal line drop out they managed to hold Lee Marsh up before he could ground the ball.

However, the new rule giving the attacking side the play the ball, introduced this season, saw the pressure eventually tell when Gavin Dodd crossed to the right of the posts, Svabic converted and Oldham had a 4-20 half-time lead.

Oldham enjoyed the better of things following the break and had a try disallowed for off-side.

Then they had Ian Marsh sin-binned, along with the Lions' Ian Sinfield for fighting, when it seemed as though it was Patel and another Oldham player who were trading blows!

Nick Johnson then crossed in the left corner and at 4-24 things looked even bleaker for Lions.

On 51 minutes Irwin was put away in front of the stand, but a brilliant Lee Marsh tackle left the Lions' winger looking decidedly the worse for wear.

When Roach was sin-binned for holding down on 53 minutes, the Lions were temporarily down to eleven men, with Gareth Barber kicking the resulting penalty to make it 4-26 in Oldham's favour.

Roach had just returned from the sin bin when he intercepted a stray Oldham pass in his own quarter, but he spoiled the good work by trying to release the ball in the tackle and having a forward pass decision awarded against him.

The Lions continued to attack the Oldham line, with Rob Whittaker being pulled back for a forward pass from Hodson. To add insult to injury, the visitors broke down field and in a classic sucker punch situation, James Bunyan crossed to make it 4-30.

Not to be outdone, Lions kept their heads up and hit Oldham with three tries of their own in the final seven minutes.

Patel and Whittaker drove the ball forwards and the Lions worked the ball right, with Tau Liku providing the final pass for Cushion to cross for his second try of the game.

When Ayres put in a kick behind the Oldham line, English was alert to the situation and he dived on the ball to leave Ayres with a simple conversion goal.

In the very last minute, a move involving seven players saw Dave Llewellyn cross in the left corner to give the final score a great deal more respectability.

LIONS: English, Roach, Bolton, Llewellyn, Irwin, Ayres, Ashton, Liku, Rogers, Cushion, Heaton, Sinfield. Subs: Johnstone, Hodson, Smith, Whittaker.

Lions are without a game this weekend and return to action on Sunday 7 March, when they welcome Chorley Linx to their new Park Lane, Whitefield home for another ATC group game. kick-off 3pm.