Oldham Roughyeds 22 - 23 Rochdale Hornets

Photo: Journeaux

Oldham Roughyeds 22 - 23 Rochdale Hornets

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Paul Crook put Hornets into the play off final with a drop goal in the dying seconds of a tense encounter with Oldham Roughyeds played in atrocious conditions at Whitebank.

With the rain absolutely lashing it down the rugby was never going to be pretty - and it wasn't but it was fiercely competitive and Oldham drew first blood ten minutes into the game when John Ford benefitted from a drop ball to cross the line. Lewis Palfrey's conversion was successful.

A period of sustained pressure from Hornets followed and it paid off as Greenwood went over. Crook converted.

Hornets had a try disallowed for a knock on - a fair call from the referee who was getting a lot of stick from the partisan Roughyed supporters.

Hornets took the lead from a Crook penalty and went further in front as a schoolboy error by the Oldham defence let Case in to dive over the line. Crook added the extras to give Hornets a deserved half-time lead.

Half time: Oldham Roughyeds 6 - 14 Rochdale Hornets

Conditions continued to be appalling as the second half started, with driving rain making handling difficult at best.

Roughyeds started as they had the first half, Kenny Hughes latching onto a bouncing ball to cross the line. Palfrey's conversion sailed over and Oldham were back within two points of Hornets.

The dependable boot of Paul Crook gave Hornets a little more breathing space when he kicked his second penalty of the game.

And it was a Crook 'grubber' that put Wayne English in to increase Hornets lead further. Crook converted to give Hornets a ten point lead half way through the second half.

Oldham refused to lie down and battled their way back into the game with a Mo Agoro try in the corner. Lewis Palfrey converted.

With just three minutes left to play, and Hornets within smelling distance of the play off final, Agoro forced his way over on the right to the absolute jubilation of the Oldham supporters. Palfrey again added the extras to tie the score at 22-22.

Just when it looked as though the game was heading for a draw, and extra time looming, that man Crook popped up with a superb drop goal in the dying seconds to give Hornets victory and a place in the play off final.

Oldham Roughyeds: Tom Whitehead, Mo Agoro, David Cookson, Dale Bloomfield, Sam Gee, Phil Joy, Kenny Hughes, Lewis Palfrey, Jason Boults, Mark Hobson, Danny Langtree, Josh Crowley, Michael Ward, Adam Files, Liam Thompson

Rochdale Hornets: Wayne English, Gareth Langley, Daniel Davies, Dave Hull, Martin Waring, Chris Hough, Steven Roper, Alex Trumper, Joe Greenwood, Warren Thompson, John Cookson, Alex McClurg, Jordan Case, Chris Baines