Match thread. Championship Round 6. Oldham v Featherstone Rovers. Sunday 13th April 2025, 3.00pm

[marklaspalmas]

If last Sunday's win was about getting back on the horse, then this Sunday's game will be a real test of of our mini revival.

Oldham are on a roll after winning L1 last year, and recruiting heavily for 2025. They continue to add to their squad and will be very much the favourites on their own patch.

Rovers have a lot more to be optimistic about. Reynolds and Hampshire both looked the business despite the former's late substitution.

Springer put beef in the pack. Hardcastle and Gale will never let you down.

The onus is now on those outside last Sunday's XVII to keep pushing for selection and creating pressure for a spot. The likes of O'Connor, Akauola, Olpherts, Turner, Stevens, and when they are fit again Boothroyd and Tuimavave.

You never know what you're going to get from Fev, But Up The Rovers.

Maybe I'll see some of you there. A rare "live" treat for me on Sunday.

[Banjorovers]

It'll be a tough ask but we are capable of the win. Come on boys you can do it UTR

[fevnut]

THIS WEEK’S REFEREE: OLDHAM v FEV (Championship Round 6)

fevnut has posted ‘This week’s referee: Oldham v Fev (Championship Round 4)’

Access the information by clicking on the link below.

https://bit.ly/4j1f2li

[fevnut]

PAST MATCHES BETWEEN OLDHAM AND FEATHERSTONE ROVERS

fevnut has posted ‘Past Matches against Oldham’, an informative listing of all official matches between the two clubs.

You will also find the details of the last match between us, the overall record of results and records in the matches such as highest scores, record winning margins etc.

The results section is divided into league matches, challenge cup games and other competitions such as play-offs, premierships, national league cup, John Player Trophy etc.

Access the charts by clicking on the attachment below.

https://bit.ly/4lniB75

[The Phantom Horseman]

For me this feels a bit like Fev 2023 (in the guise of Oldham) against Fev 2025, and on that basis I think MLP is correct that Oldham should be strong favourites.

As well as the obvious similarities - Long as coach, Dean, Wildie and Taylor from our squad of that year (Kopczak has just retired), and even George Riley as their in-house commentator/interviewer - their recruitment is strikingly similar to ours, with lots of quality veterans dropping down from SL, together with one or two up-and-comers. Instead of Leilua, Hankinson, Hall, Moors and Kheirallah they have similar big names such as Drinkwater, Dudson, Turner, Ashurst, Milner and Thornley.

They seem to have been a bit rocks and diamonds so far - two or three wide-margin wins, but hiccups against Barrow and Batley - but really they ought to be a match for anyone in the division given their squad.

We were a bit better on Sunday, having been awful for 4 or 5 weeks in a row prior to that, but London were pretty moderate opposition Oldham put 50 past them against a very similar line-up) and in particular had nothing to offer at half back, whereas Oldham's pair will provide a totally different test.

To be honest I think we'll need to improve again even to be competitive, but hopefully the return of those key players might see us continue to take steps forward.

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

This is the one championship fixture I've been looking forward to. No nonsense proper Rugby League fixture from two old school clubs. I remember one freezing night up at sheddings ,Ray Ashton  broke free from a tackle and the defending Fev player had somehow got hold of the wasteband of his jockstrap.  It snapped and I've never seen Ashy run so fast.

[Jimmy DoNut]

10 minutes ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

This is the one championship fixture I've been looking forward to. No nonsense proper Rugby League fixture from two old school clubs. I remember one freezing night up at sheddings ,Ray Ashton  broke free from a tackle and the defending Fev player had somehow got hold of the wasteband of his jockstrap.  It snapped and I've never seen Ashy run so fast.

UP THE YEDS!        

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DGxkmgFCS/

Some classic film of Oldham/Fev clashes over the years.

[Fevrover]

45 minutes ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DGxkmgFCS/

Some classic film of Oldham/Fev clashes over the years.

Brilliant that, i enjoyed it cheers.

[Phil Briscoe]

Not a criticism of any individual or club and showing my age but one of the first ever Fev away days for me was at the Water sheddings!!

Paul Round followed through and smashed Chris Bibb’s knee. While the referee was working out what to do Fev started to warm up Gary Rose and Chris Burton…two less ill equipped peacekeepers I couldn’t think of!!

Great days

[Gooleboy]

1 hour ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DGxkmgFCS/

Some classic film of Oldham/Fev clashes over the years.

Some great memories and big crowds as well.

[sentoffagain2]

10 hours ago, Phil Briscoe said:

Not a criticism of any individual or club and showing my age but one of the first ever Fev away days for me was at the Water sheddings!!

Paul Round followed through and smashed Chris Bibb’s knee. While the referee was working out what to do Fev started to warm up Gary Rose and Chris Burton…two less ill equipped peacekeepers I couldn’t think of!!

Great days

   Bet Gary Rose had a fight with himself when he looked into the mirror.

[The Phantom Horseman]

13 hours ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DGxkmgFCS/

Some classic film of Oldham/Fev clashes over the years.

Wow, good stuff, especially loved those few seconds from the 1968 game as there's so little footage of Rovers from the 60s and 70s, some very young-looking future Fev greats in there including Jimmy Thompson, Steve Nash and John Newlove.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Squad named for Sunday, Olpherts and Stevens replace the injured Day and Akauola from last week's 21.
 

Oldham's squad

 

Edited April 11 by The Phantom Horseman

[fevnut]

Oldham v Fev: 21 man squads

fevnut has now published ‘Oldham v Fev: 21 man squads’.  

We find it quite difficult to see the potential shape of the teams in the form in which the clubs publish the squads, so we choose to use guesswork based on last week’s teams to set them out in the traditional manner running from fullback to loose forward and then subs.

We also include a chart showing the leading scorers for both teams.

Access the page by clicking on the link below.

https://bit.ly/3YmEnhd

[marklaspalmas]

O'Connor for Day with Hardcastle to SR would be my only change

[TheYoungBaron]

On 10/04/2025 at 09:12, sentoffagain2 said:

   Bet Gary Rose had a fight with himself when he looked into the mirror.

Was just thinking that misself.  Matt Calland was another who'd fight his own shadow. 

[The Phantom Horseman]

Today is a dress rehearsal for the 1895 semi final, we have drawn Oldham away.

[Michael Bates]

2 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Today is a dress rehearsal for the 1895 semi final, we have drawn Oldham away.

Let's hope we have a goal kicker for then eh?

[Fevrover]

3 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Today is a dress rehearsal for the 1895 semi final, we have drawn Oldham away.

Would rather have won today then the SF but I'll take any wins.

[sentoffagain2]

   First time Oldham were in front was at 30-24 after Springer was sent off.They didn't miss a goal kick Drinkwater while we missed 5.Reynolds 1 Addy 2 and Hampshire 2.Hampshire tried a 40/20 and put the ball out on the full resulting in Oldham scoring a try and conversion.Turner had 3 men on him and still managed to get the ball down.Wynne scored 2 and was narrowly in touch trying for his hat trick.How many games will Springer miss for his red card ?we will miss him.Hardy tried his heart out as usual.

[Featherstonerovers2000]

Just got home from Oldham tough game to watch thought we had enough to win the game but some times these things happen definitely a lot of improvement in attack just lacking another big middle to cause problems like springer dose creating quick play the balls but see how we go on Friday UTR

[fevnut]

fevnut HAS POSTED ‘OLDHAM V FEV (CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 6)’: MATCH DETAILS

We don’t yet have the men of the match or attendance but we will add them as soon as they become available.

Access the page by clicking on the link below.

https://bit.ly/4id1PEI

[RobLambert]

Oldham had a few moments but I think overall we caused them more problems than they did us.  Bet side lost for me. 

[Maureen T-k]

On 11/04/2025 at 19:25, TheYoungBaron said:

Was just thinking that misself.  Matt Calland was another who'd fight his own shadow. 

By a Country Mile