NORTHERN RAIL CUP - EAGLES QUALIFY DESPITE A BATTLING PERFORMANCE FROM OLDHAM

OLDHAM 22 SHEFFIELD 24

Oldham took on Sheffield at Park Lane this evening and twice shocked the Eagles by etablishing ten point leads. Sheffield however, fought back and claimed victory with a John Coleman penalty five minutes from time.

It was the hosts at their temporary home who made a great start with two tries in the first 12 minutes.

Fullback Paul O'Connor grabbed the first after six minutes after good work from Mark Brocklehurst. Matt Ashe goaled and Oldham were 6-0 to the good.

With Mick Fogerty initially running rampant Oldham were well worth their advantage. It was the centre who created the second try as he fed the ball out for Brocklehurst and the former Rochdale winger touched down.

As the half moved on, the bigger Sheffield pack began to exert more influence. Papua New Guinea international Trevor Exton and substitutes Sam Barlow and Alex Rowe started making inroads and after good work from the latter, Barlow went over the top of O'Connor to score.

Irish man John Coleman goaled before adding a smart try himself after 32 minutes as he surged through a hole left by injury to Fogerty. His conversion handed Sheffield the lead for the first time and despite a couple of penalties and opportunities for Oldham, that was how it remained at the break.

Oldham drew first blood in the second half. A loose ball was picked up by Oldham who advanced downfield quickly with only a good tackle from Ashley Thackeray on Brocklehurst. A quick play the ball and good support saw Neil Roden go over. Ashe converted and on their next possession the Roughyeds scored from distance when Marcus St Hilaire drew Thackeray and worked with Lucas Onyango for the pacy winger to finish. Ashe again goaled and all of a sudden it was 22-12.

With Oldham in control Dave Ellison was held up over the line before Sheffield forced back to back sets. The hosts kept their nerve before Sheffield made good inroads and pulled a try back through Peter Green on the hour. Another Eagles try quickly followed, a second from Barlow and Coleman levelled the score - 22-22 with 17 minutes remaining.

As the clock counted down Oldham conceded a penalty for a high tackle and Coleman struck his 4th goal to edge the Eagles in front. On their next possession Sheffield won a further penalty but good defence forced an error from the otherwise tidy Craig Cook.
Oldham then chanced their arm with some expansive play but Sheffield ran the clock down to pick up their third win in four qualifying games.