Ian Rigg reports from Boundary Park

A super effort by the Lions almost got them off to a dream start in this years Northern Rail Cup but for a James Coyle try for the home side in the dying minutes.

Oldham almost took the impetus from start when ex-Lion Phil Joseph was first to the ball from the home-side’s kick-off putting them on the attack in the opening seconds.

From this first set of six another former Lion, Mick Nanyn almost scored in the corner but some great defence by Chris Hull and Andy Saywell stopped him.

The Lions also had an early chance when Gary Hulse put a kick to the corner but the rolling ball was just too fast for Marlon Billy.

From the re-start Oldham swept down field and Joseph made a break down the middle to set up a try for Rob Roberts on the right. Nanyn failed with conversion attempt.

There was more pressure from Oldham with Coyle kicking a 40/20 and then Joseph going over the try line only to be grounded on his back.

The Roughyeds went further ahead on fifteen minutes when a kick for the corner saw Marcus St Hilaire cross in the corner and Nanyn added the extras.

Hulse set up another chance for Billy shortly after but again the ball ran away dead in goal. It wasn’t before Oldham went even further ahead five minutes later when an overlap on the left saw Nanyn cross in the corner for a converted try.

Oldham prop Said Tamgart was sent to the sin bin on twenty-eight minutes for holding down and from the resulting penalty the Lions got in a good position for Bruce Johnson to go over from short range, with Richie Hawkyard adding the goal.

The Lions introduced Liam McGovern just after this for the injured Phil Wood and before the break they had three more chances to score with Hull going close twice and Billy once only to be stopped by good defence.

Swinton made a dream start in the second-half when Hawkyard put a high kick to the corner in the second minute and Billy jumped higher than Darryl Cardiss to score and Hawkyard added the touch-line conversion.

There were chances both sides before Rob Ball stormed over by the posts after excellent build up play by McGovern and Hawkyard converted to put the Lions ahead for the first time.

As Mick Nanyn knocked-on in his own twenty metre zone on fifty eight minutes, an Oldham player argued with the referee and a penalty was awarded to Swinton which Hawkyard gratefully took the two points to increase the lead.

The lead could have been stretched even further ahead on sixty-seven minutes when the Lions got another penalty but Hawkyard's kick from thirty-eight metres fell just wide of the posts.

The killer blow came with just three minutes left when Coyle managed to slip two tackles to cross by the posts and Nanyn added the simple goal points.

There was just time for one last attack from the Lions and Gary Sykes did manage to get over the line in the last minute to be grounded on his back on the last tackle.

Lions coach Paul Kidd was happy with his teams second half performance and stated "I was a little unhappy with the start when we gave away too many silly penalties which were all justified, but once they got into their stride they had Oldham on the back foot constantly".

Teams :
Roughyeds :-
1.Paul O'Connor
2.Darryl Cardiss
3.Danny Halliwell
4.Mick Nanyn
5.Marcus St Hilaire
6.Neil Roden
7.James Coyle
8.Jason Boults
9.Phil Joseph
10.Richard Mervill
11.Tommy Grundy
12.Rob Roberts
13.Tommy Goulden
Subs (All Used)
14.Matty Brooks
15.Simon Baldwin
16.Adam Robinson
17.Said Tamgart

Tries : Roberts (6), St Hilaire (15), Nanyn (20), Coyle (77)
Goals : Nanyn 3/4

Lions :
1.Wayne English
2.Andy Saywell
3.Chris Hull
4.Dean Gorton
5.Marlon Billy
6.Richie Hawkyard
7.Gary Hulse
8.Rob Line
9.Phil Wood
10.Rob Ball
11.Chris Morley
12.Neil Rigby
13.Gary Sykes
Subs (All Used)
14.Liam McGovern
15.Martin Moana
16.Chris Tyrer
17.Bruce Johnson

Tries : Johnson (29), Billy (42), Ball (55)
Goals : Hawkyard 4/5