Oldham and Swinton Lions both picked up big wins in their quest for Kingstone Press Championship survival in Bank Holiday Monday’s Championship Shield action.
Oldham were taking on fellow relegation rivals Rochdale Hornets at the Crown Oil Arena and managed a 30-24 victory.
Early tries from Joe Burke and Luke Adamson put visitors Oldham into a 12-4 lead after 16 minutes, after Chris Riley had crossed for Rochdale.
Jake Eccleston went over for the hosts but Oldham finished the half on top with Adam Clay’s 32nd minute try giving Scott Naylor’s side an 18-8 lead.
Ryan Maneely’s 47th minute try gave Hornets hope early in the second but they were kept at arm’s length as Burke went over for his second on 69th minute to restore the two-score cushion.
Rob Massam again closed the gap as he crossed for the hosts six minutes later but Luke Hooley rubber-stamped an Oldham win with his 78th minute score.
Jovili Taira’s try up the other end a minute later was little more than a consolation for Alan Kilshaw’s Rochdale who remain fifth and a point away from the relegation zone.
Courage, big hearts and solid defence https://t.co/oTQuuHUMHf
— Oldham RLFC (@Roughyeds) August 29, 2017
Oldham coach Naylor told the club’s website: “I’m old-fashioned. I would rather win a close, hard-fought game with solid defence than with fancy play or an amazing kick.
“We’ve been in front against Rochdale in previous games this season, but we’ve lost because we haven’t been as courageous as we were this time. We got the bit between our teeth and it was good to see.
“We need to play like that in each of our three remaining games and with the spirit in the club as superb as it is right now, and with so many positives knocking about, I see no reason why we can’t.
“Sometimes it’s not down to game plans, coaching, or what you’ve been doing on the training pitch; it’s all down to what the players do on the day and, in particular to how they react when they’ve a lot of tough defending to do.
“We’re in a dogfight to stay up with Swinton and Rochdale, whose one-point advantage largely becomes irrelevant now. They play each other next week so something has to give.
“We play Swinton as well in a couple of weeks, but all the focus in the next few days will be on Toulouse’s visit to Bower Fold on Sunday.”
You can't beat that winning feeling! 🙌🻠pic.twitter.com/ogO0MZQLqz
— Swinton Lions RLFC (@Swinton_Lions) August 28, 2017
Elsewhere, Swinton Lions picked up their first win in four with a 35-24 victory at Dewsbury Rams, to keep them out of the bottom two on points difference.
Chris Hankinson, Ben White, Josh Barlow, Ilias Bergal and Ben Austin all went over for the Lions.
Dewsbury’s scorers were Gareth Potts, Dom Speakman, Lucas Walshaw, Aaron Brown and Sam Day.
TRY Batley. @Leak79. HAT TRICK for Leak! What a gift from the Bulls. They take possession from the kick and the pass goes to ground. pic.twitter.com/iSuIVh4z1P
— Batley Bulldogs RLFC (@BatleyRLFC) August 28, 2017
Batley Bulldogs overcame a slow start which saw them trail 12-0 to already-relegated Bradford Bulls, to record a 44-18 win at Odsal.
The Bulls led by two scores inside 13 minutes after tries from Sam Hallas and Liam Kirk but Matt Diskin’s side asserted their dominance from there on in.
Alistair Leak and James Harrison both bagged hat-trick for the Bulldogs, with Bradley Day and Dom Brambani also going over.
In Monday’s late kick-off, Toulouse Olympique XIII retained their seven-point lead in the Championship Shield by beating Sheffield Eagles 32-16.
Clement Boyer, Johnathan Ford, Bastian Ader, Stan Robin, Mark Kheirallah and Maxime Puech all scored for the French side.
Garry Lo, Duane Straughier and Ben Blackmore crossed for Mark Aston’s men.
