28 replies to this topic

[TBozz]

How many fans , let alone players underestimated the talent that Clive Griffiths has fashioned in this newly formed, North Wales outfit? Many fans believed that the result was not an issue. The discussions were about how many Oldham would win by and how well could they improve their points difference.
Rugby League is a team game, played by powerful forwards making the platform for the half backs and backs to help secure the win. Crusaders were just "that team".Neutrals would say that it was a terrific advert for Championship 1 Rugby League. At the end of the game the travelling army of away fans were delirious with the result, whilst the looks on the Roughyeds players faces summed up the feelings of the Oldham faithful.
13 tries provided excellent, end to end entertainment from the third minute when Boults and Clark punched holes in the defensive wall. Dally attacks the right corner, takes a high shot, but moves the ball left. Holroyd floats the ball out into the eager arms of Robbo, and he crosses for the first try of the afternoon. A brilliant Dally conversion extends the score to 6 - 0.
Frantic stuff to follow. Oldham loose the abll on 3 tackles - forward pass. Great pressure by Crusaders, but Clough intercepts the ball on our line and a a drop out is forced under the posts. Dally is soon in action and makes amazing metres. Penalty to Oldham for high shot. But terrific defence by the visitors and now Dally's Crusader, counterpart is making a weaving run as he attacks the Oldham line. Stopped just shy of the line, the ball is quickly whipped right, after sucking in the defence and Clay crosses for the first of the Crusaders seven tries. Conversion just wide.
Oldham are soon back on the scoreboard. On the back of a penalty for holding, the Roughyeds attack from half way. Cloughy and Miles Greenwood tear into the defensive line. Dogger feeds McCully wide left, but a quick switch to the right and Cloughy is in support to score near the posts. Dally converts and the Roughyeds extend the lead to 12 - 4.
Following only a fair set by the home side, Dally kicks on five and the Crusaders right wing gathers the ball and attacks up his wing, out stripping the defence. The Crusaders demonstrated their abilty and desire to support the man in possession and score a try that started from their own line. Mousdale completes the move and scores an outstanding try. ( as good as anything you would see on Sky.)Easy conversion and the score is 12 - 10 as the Crusaders fly the flag for Welsh Rugby League.
During the second quarter, the Crusaders put their stamp on an impressive start to the game with big plays, skilfull rugby and off loads that left their fans drooling and the Oldham fans demanding greater effort in defense. Making a full 80m in one set, the Crusaders chip and Dally gathers saving a certain try. A penalty follows soon afetr for not playing the ball and the visitors are 20m from our line again. Two solid drives and a swift pass to the left and they are in a again with a score from Broadbent. Conversion wide, 12 - 14 and a shift in power.
By contrast Oldham were playing too much "one up" rugby, with the forwards often "missing" in the early drives. Crusaders force the error and we have a scrum 20m out. Robbo diffuses a bomb and gets great support from Dally and Stenchion as we are in their half again. A Holroyd chip into space, is not far enough forward as the supporting Miles Grenwood struggles to gather the bobbling ball. Following more frantic play Foggy gives away a penalty for back chat.
Crusaders attack from deep again with support players in abundance. So many options in attack. Stopped 5m short they switch the attack to a chip for the corner. The ball is tipped back into play and the impressive no 11 , Clarke scores on 31 minutes. Following the conversion the visitors appear to be fully in charge.
Miles Greenwood diffuses a bomb on sixth tackle and Dally again attacks the gain line.He ducks his head, sprints forward and chips and follows making a further 40m. Mark McCully and Valu B are both held short of the line. Holroyd floats another pass out to Foggy and he powers over on 36 minutes to reduce the arrears to 16 - 20. Considering how Oldham had been chasing the game for most of the half, three times in opposition territory and three scores. Cannot play this game without ball! Oldham are robbed of a chance to extend the lead when the impressive scrum half for Crusaders intercepts but is a mile off side. Great scrambling defence prevent Oldham from turning the pressure into points.
WE make the worst possible start to the second half.Crusaders are awarded a penalty and move the ball to the left with skill and enthusiasm and score through Morrison on 42 mins. Great converesion and the visitors are in the driving seat, 16 - 26. Surely Oldham would use the advantage of playing down the slope????????
Oldham force a mini revival, as Holroyd feeds Clarky who has his try disallowed for a forward pass. Oldham force the error and it is scrum attack on 30m. Miles Greenwood enters the line at speed and is awarded a penalty. Young Acton ( Oldham's MOM ) makes excdellent ground. Both Dally and Elli are held up short of the line. Holroyd whips the ball out to Foggy and with the conversion, the Roughyeds peg the score back to 22 - 26.
Panic stations in the Crusaders camp? Not on your life!!!!Composed, basic Rugby League skills combined with excellent team play and a scrum on half way sees Cross scythe through the Oldham defence without a finger laid on him. Foggy slips in the process and Cross has the line beckoning as he sprints for the score. Great solo effort. 22 - 32 following a succesful conversion. The third quarter comes to an end with the visitors commanding another good lead. More pressure from the visitors and is their exciting half back through? Just dragged to the ground, but a lightning play the ball and it is propelled wide away from the tiring defence and Massam extends the lead to 22 - 36.
Oldham are now chasing the BP as the terrific defence from the visitors suggests that 3 scores is beyond the Roughyeds in the remaining minutes. Oldham dig in and Acton runs down the right channel. Clarke and Boults build on the momentum. Dally's kick forces a drop out. Oldham unlucky in kick chase to the corner. Foggy's massive hit in the middle of the park spraks another mini revival. Dally 30m out tries a kick chase but earns a penalty for obstruction. Take 2 and get BP? No we ran it and it was Oldham's turn to see the "fear" in the defenders eyes. Two swift passes, to left and then right and Elli is on hand. Dally drop kicks the goal to save time and it is 28 - 36. Would Oldham steal the game when Crusaders had dominated in many areas? The tide had turned, but "too little, too late?" Holroyd puts Miles Greenwood over on 78 minutes and Dally rushes the conversion. 32 - 36. Still another twist. Another penalty to Oldham and Dally sees the line. Backing himself, as usual, he attacks and weaves over the line only to see tha ball leave his hand as he is tackled in the act of "scoring". Game over and the Crusaders win a taut encounter in which they were definitely the better team on the day.
No one would begrudge them their victory as they often gave us lessons in basic rugby league. A bonus point flattered the Roughyeds in a performance where Dally overshadowed his experienced side kick in both attack and defence.
After the game the Crusaders fans informed us that it was the best display of the season and would have a long journey home to discuss what they thought was a thrilling victory for their newly re-formed club. I for one, could not deny them their moment of glory.

[roughyed48]

Benson has to go, no proven success anywhere.

[allroughyed]

Coached Leigh to a Northern rail grand final win in 2006. suggest you do your research before critise someone.

[Antisuperleague]

Excellent report yet again. Sadly Oldham were very poor and made the Crusaders look like St.Helens. They couldn't cope with a side playing basic rugby league ie. pass and back up when in attack and tackle and stop the ball when in defence. One up rugby on dry surfaces will never win you games.
Please Mr.Benson sort it out before it's too late and we lose more die hard fans.

[higgy]

Coached Leigh to a Northern rail grand final win in 2006. suggest you do your research before critise someone.

How many finals as he taken us to but we still couldn't win one?

[oldhamer]

Three, and one of those was at the end of the BQ debacle, when really we punched well above our weight to get there.And credit to that goes to the coach and every player that season who rolled up their sleeves and got on with it.

Disapointed with the two finals that we lost, but it happens, there has to be a loser as well as a winner. But remember, Oldham competed in Grand Finals when other teams overspent to gain success either in the Final or automatic promotion. Gateshead, Doncaster to name a few.

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

Three, and one of those was at the end of the BQ debacle, when really we punched well above our weight to get there.And credit to that goes to the coach and every player that season who rolled up their sleeves and got on with it.

Disapointed with the two finals that we lost, but it happens, there has to be a loser as well as a winner. But remember, Oldham competed in Grand Finals when other teams overspent to gain success either in the Final or automatic promotion. Gateshead, Doncaster to name a few.

Don't forget Barrow!

[eclecticsheep]

question time....
ORLFC finish top four...how much increase to central funding does NL status bring.

bearing in mind the probability of increased requirements to field a NL competetive side.(to maintain some type of fanbase).
York, Hunslet etc are hardly packing them in are they.

and the greater necessity to implement ground standard improvements.


There is a lot that could be read into CH`s comments regarding the scenario of missing out on promotion, he could be actually making a hard headed business reality check couldnt he!

[oldhamer]

I'd forgot about them.

[oldhamer]

Business decision or not, it would be a disaster if Oldham didn't gain promotion this season, both on and off the field. Would we fold if we didn't? I doubt it, but it would be one hard battle to get back into the Championship financially.

[sheddings69]

Business decision or not, it would be a disaster if Oldham didn't gain promotion this season, both on and off the field. Would we fold if we didn't? I doubt it, but it would be one hard battle to get back into the Championship financially.

....and it's a guaranteed 2 more seasons in the third 'development' division

[oldhamer]

Exactly, and thats where we would struggle both on and off the field.
Oldham at this point in time needs to be in the Championship. Do we have the squad to get us there? Yes. Do we have the coaching team to get us there? Yes.
It's a very tough and competitive division this season, and I am sure, next season you will find some clubs that are promoted from C1 will hit the -9 points or so deduction for overspending. Which if it does, then it makes a mockery yet again of the salary cap.

[allroughyed]

How many finals as he taken us to but we still couldn't win one?

I ponted out that Benson has won something, in reply to an accusation that he hadn't achieved anything as a coach. I fail to see what this has got to do with that.

[eclecticsheep]

Do we have the chairman to get us there?

[sheddings69]

Do we have the chairman to get us there?

I think the absence of a board of directors is a bigger problem.

[eclecticsheep]

The absence of information and facts and figures is another!

[oldhamer]

Who knows. No one knows. But at this moment in time, everyone has to support the regime in charge if the club is to have success. No one else is coming forward, and I am sure that no one would work harder for the club than CH. CH managed to get us a home venue to grow roots, the first time since 1995. That has to be applauded, even though Whitebank isn't ideal at present.

I am not stupid to think that an investment of money would make a difference to the club. But who knows whats in the pipeline at Whitebank for the forseeable future? I guess planning applications would only be submitted if the development would have a 100% success of passing, as CH only will only publish the certainties of the club and not false dawns. And if that's the case, then I am in full agreement. The area of Whitebank residentially and historically is problematic with regards to developing, and I am sure that the club, CH is aware that those requirements and considerations and have taken those into account.
Planning takes anything between 6-8weeks currently to be rubberstamped if there are no 'serious' objections. And like someone had said earlier abot Mossleys ground, it doesn't take a lot to develop a bank of terracing to get the capacity up. Yet, all that needs planning approval and building control. And who knows, maybe CH has a bank of grants ready and waiting for developing the stadia once things are finally sorted?

[Antisuperleague]

There goes another flying pig.

[donquixote]

Who knows. No one knows. But at this moment in time, everyone has to support the regime in charge if the club is to have success. No one else is coming forward, and I am sure that no one would work harder for the club than CH. CH managed to get us a home venue to grow roots, the first time since 1995. That has to be applauded, even though Whitebank isn't ideal at present.

I am not stupid to think that an investment of money would make a difference to the club. But who knows whats in the pipeline at Whitebank for the forseeable future? I guess planning applications would only be submitted if the development would have a 100% success of passing, as CH only will only publish the certainties of the club and not false dawns. And if that's the case, then I am in full agreement. The area of Whitebank residentially and historically is problematic with regards to developing, and I am sure that the club, CH is aware that those requirements and considerations and have taken those into account.
Planning takes anything between 6-8weeks currently to be rubberstamped if there are no 'serious' objections. And like someone had said earlier abot Mossleys ground, it doesn't take a lot to develop a bank of terracing to get the capacity up. Yet, all that needs planning approval and building control. And who knows, maybe CH has a bank of grants ready and waiting for developing the stadia once things are finally sorted?

At a public meeting in September CH said initial planning applications had been submitted and a decision was due in February. I'm still waiting to hear the outcome!

[sheddings69]

At a public meeting in September CH said initial planning applications had been submitted and a decision was due in February. I'm still waiting to hear the outcome!

No plans submitted to OMBC as of last week when I checked