Oldham Roughyeds 4 - 30 Rochdale Hornets

Hornets were far from brilliant but defensively and offensively were in the ascendancy from start to finish, playing with a zest and a level of enthusiasm which the limp, lethargic Roughyeds never once looked capable of replicating.

Hornets held Oldham at bay in the first half, when playing up the slope and into the wind, and then seeing them off with four unanswered tries in the second half when the elements were in their favour.

Hornets didn't come to take prisoners. In the opening minutes Gary Middlehurst and Paul Noone were seen squaring up before the generally unflappable Neil Roden reacted angrily to a challenge and got himself penalised.

Roden and his half-back partner Danny Whitmore were harassed and hustled out of the game by opponents who had clearly identified them as the danger men who could make Oldham tick.

Hornets ended the half 6-4 in front.

Hornets fans were delighted when their kick-off for the second half flew past the covering Whitmore to go dead, giving Hornets the ball from the drop out under the posts.

Oldham were immediately struggling on their own line, and that was to set the pattern for most of the second half.

Trailing 12-4, Roughyeds still had an outside chance of getting something from the game, but that was quickly taken away from them. Oldham gave their fans a smattering of hope with two left-wing raids, but both came to nothing. Another Oldham attack broke down deep in Hornets territory and Roper picked up the loose ball for big prop John Cookson to send Leather away on a long run to the Oldham line.

Phil Braddish went in next to record the Hornets fifth and final try.