Browse Sections

• Salford City Reds
• Local football
• Local cricket

Oldham carved up

Claire Mooney
22/ 2/2007

Rugby League
Oldham 18
Swinton Lions 28

THE Lions made it two wins out of two in the Northern Rail Cup with a hard-fought derby victory carved out by Woods and Wood.

Centre Darren Woods led the scoring with four cracking tries while hooker Phil Wood notched one himself and also made a major contribution in the middle of the park.

Oldham, relegated to League Two last season after a nightmare campaign, had an influential half back pairing in Neil Roden and former Lion Paul Ashton but just couldn't match the determination of Paul Kidd's men.

It was anybody's game right up until the final quarter, however, when three tries in 10 minutes made sure of the points for the visitors.

Swinton now look almost certain to progress to the next round.

Woods started the pot boiling in the third minute when he was put through by Wayne English. Liam McGovern added the extras.

Oldham hit back with Roden and Chris Baines going over and Said Tamghart converting both tries.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure - the Lions had to kick out from behind their own posts six times in the first half - but some determined defence kept them at bay.

And Woods' second try of the game kept the half-time deficit to 12-10.

A Geno Costin try and Ashton's conversion extended Oldham's lead to eight points.

The Lions weren't beaten though and the lively Woods completed his hat-trick, taking English's pass to go in near the corner.

A magnificent solo effort from hooker Wood levelled the scores as he ran across the Oldham defensive line until a gap opened up for him to touch down in the right corner.

Substitute Chris Hough's conversion edged the Lions ahead and then he turned provider to put Woods in for his fourth try, which was again scored in the corner.

Andy Saywell rounded things off with a try 12 minutes from time after another former Lion, Wes Rogers, had been sin-binned for interfering in the tackle.

His return in the final minutes coincided with the dismissal of Tamghart for a high tackle on Hough.

Kidd said: "I thought our defensive effort was great. We showed a lot of spirit in defence.

"In the first half we let ourselves down with our ball control. But after the break we got our house in order with the ball-in-hand and showed what we are capable of."

Team: English; Saywell, Woods, Conway, Williams; Moana, McGovern; Johnson, Wood, Hayes, Newton, Morley, Alcock. Subs used: Hough, Smith, Sharples, Line. Tries: Woods (4), Wood, Saywell. Goals: McGovern, Hough.

Attendance: 1,017.