Challenge Cup : Oldham RLFC v Dewsbury Rams 8th February, KO: 15:00

[horbury ram]

Officials for Sunday

• Referee: M. Mckelvey
• Reserve Referee: J. Greenhalgh
• Touch Judge 1: J. Callaghan
• Touch Judge 2: L. O'brien
• Time Keeper: P. Hewitt

[Wakefield Ram]

Given Oldham ran London close I suspect this game might be a reality check. And our lack of size in the forwards will be exposed. 

Oldham by about 25.

[Blind side johnny]

Paul March fancies a good cup run this year.

[STEVE P]

2 hours ago, Blind side johnny said:

Paul March fancies a good cup run this year.

Me too. Just as far as the round of 8 will do nicely.

I also would like my car to turn into a new Porsche, and for Trump to grow a brain. 

Well, you started it.

[Wakefield Ram]

3 hours ago, Blind side johnny said:

Paul March fancies a good cup run this year.

I'm not getting caught out again after falling for the "play off contention" gag....

[Transpennine Ram]

16 hours ago, Blind side johnny said:

Paul March fancies a good cup run this year.

I cannot imagine any coach being asked about the Challenge Cup and responding "not that arsed to be honest".

[Wakefield Ram]

2 hours ago, Transpennine Ram said:

I cannot imagine any coach being asked about the Challenge Cup and responding "not that arsed to be honest".

Suspect our cup run will end with a slight jog at Oldham. 

 

[Reverend Ram]

But at least it’s a nice train ride and chance of a pint at the Stalybridge station bar!

[Blind side johnny]

16 hours ago, Reverend Ram said:

But at least it’s a nice train ride and chance of a pint at the Stalybridge station bar!

Under "normal" circumstances before the transpennine upgrade, maybe; not so much now.

There are no trains running between Huddersfield and Stalybridge, those from Dewsbury either being diverted via Manchester Victoria or replaced by a bus.

[coolie]

Looks like an afternoon on the sofa cuddled up with Iplayer 

Nice to have a Sunday off

Hmmm who do I cheer for

London

[Crown Flatter]

We will be at the end of a heavy defeat I expect with this cup tie.

Oldham 48-12 Dewsbury 

FTS: Nelmes

MoM: McShane

 Att: 801

[Blind side johnny]

The end of another cup "run" I believe. If nothing else the impact of some powerful forwards will be too much for us, although I expect a valiant effort.

Oldham 32- 14 Rams

FTS: O'Connor

MoM: Hookem

Att: not many but will we ever know?

[Wakefield Ram]

Unfortunately/fortunately I have a prior engagement, but 26-0 down at HT doesn't bode very well.

Is it as bad as it looks?

UPDATE:

yes it is..

Edited February 8 by Wakefield Ram

[Therein73]

A heavy defeat to a bigger, stronger and faster team -- bags of pace and plenty of experience.... And an awesome number 17 making his debut for Oldham and deservedly taking M-o- M.

From our lads .... Bags of heart and no lack of effort.... spilling possession in dangerous positions and the amount of "back to one" decisions at PTB meant we were always on the back foot..

And as for that loudmouth in the crowd and the bl00dy annoying drum .... Rugby League is a better experience without both......

 

[KC Ram]

We were playing a team with plenty of full time players with super league experience.They have stated they plan to be fully full time by the end of this season.

our lads never gave up but lacked size and speed of pass. Our fitness was good so against other part time teams I expect we will hold our own.

 

[bosman69]

As an Oldham fan I would say that despite being outgunned (as you suspected) you never packed in and it was only the quality of our scramble that kept you out. This is the third time we have nilled a team this season in four games

Issues off the field are being over dramatised and certainly not impacting our play on the field.

Your young halves chucked plenty at us and Mcshane was lively. 

Good luck for the rest of the season. 

[Wakefield Ram]

24 minutes ago, KC Ram said:

We were playing a team with plenty of full time players with super league experience.They have stated they plan to be fully full time by the end of this season.

our lads never gave up but lacked size and speed of pass. Our fitness was good so against other part time teams I expect we will hold our own.

 

Surprised if they are planning to go full-time. With London ahead in the SL queue and SL very unlikely to expand, it's hard to see any route to SL. 

[J Phil Loxton]

1 hour ago, Wakefield Ram said:

Surprised if they are planning to go full-time. With London ahead in the SL queue and SL very unlikely to expand, it's hard to see any route to SL. 

Yes I think Oldham need to take a lesson from Fev. For as far as I see there will only be one club in the running for Super Dooper whatever position they finish in. Oldham need to establish themselves has a top championship side first then see what happens.

[bosman69]

1 hour ago, KC Ram said:

We were playing a team with plenty of full time players with super league experience.They have stated they plan to be fully full time by the end of this season.

our lads never gave up but lacked size and speed of pass. Our fitness was good so against other part time teams I expect we will hold our own.

 

Just to be clear, Oldham are part time at present but our squad is largely made up of players who have been full-time for most of their careers as you note.

Our squad is very strong and despite having a number of backs not ready to play - Jack Walker,  Matty Russell, Iain thornley and Ben okeefe - we still had the luxury of replacing Riley Dean with debut maker Emmanuel waine who won man of the match despite playing out of position at centre. 

I appreciate this was a cup game but with the mixed up nature of the championship fixtures you will win plenty this season - as you have done already...and you're above us in the league after our narrow defeat at London. 

[Crown Flatter]

A bit late to the table, but here are my general thoughts on yesterday’s match.

We were ponderous when we had the ball, slow with pace, slow with passing along the line, often (to use an old fashioned term) telegraphed with three Oldham players waiting. We got to their line only four or five times and just couldn’t get the touchdown. I don’t think we lacked fitness on yesterday’s showing though.

Oldham were obviously going to win with there big forwards and not so little backs too. Polar opposite to our passing, theirs was crisp and they were quick to play the ball, had the pace to get past our defenders and in defence they tackled hard and were masters at holding down at the ptb. When preparing to take conversions, Dixon seemed to take more time than it did to score tries.

Oldham’s MoM was Waine (ex Bradford), but I would have given it to Jake Bibby (ex Huddersfield). Difficult to suggest one for Dewsbury, maybe Nelmes for his industrious time on the field, or O’Connor, perhaps because I noticed him more.  McShane was there for everything, catching high balls, tackling and trying to break the line. Coates and Hookem put in kicks for us to chase when close to the line, but teammates were too slow to respond. I have one highlight for Wakefield Ram: Oldham took a short drop out and who jumped highest to diffuse the kick? Brad Graham of course.

The young referee was repeatedly “old manned” by Oldham, awarding numerous set restarts for what offence was hard for me to determine and he allowed them to hold down without penalty.

I think we got what we expected, but we must find some pace when running and be sharper when passing. We still won the penalty count 7-4 in a good, clean game; same couldn’t be said for the players’ shirts however.

Edited February 9 by Crown Flatter

[Wakefield Ram]

@Crown Flatter glad to know at least Oldham realise that Brad Graham is a great catcher of a high ball I'll take a wild guess that we didn't try the same tactic to try and score?

Regarding Hookem and Coates putting kicks in close to the line. Did the rest of the team look like they knew that kick was coming or were they just slow to react?  

One of our best tactics is after a penalty kick to touch we always do two passes and telegraph a forward to get smashed in the middle. Every time. It's like U8s coaching. 

Does anyone know if Jack Briggs is injured? One of our best back row forwards and certainly better than at least one who gets picked every week. 

Thanks for the detailed summary. We are going to take some beatings this season. I remain baffled why we went into the season with just two props, one who was out with injury for much of the season. Why aren't we looking to get a prop on loan? 

Edited February 9 by Wakefield Ram

[Crown Flatter]

I don’t recall a high ball to the line other than from deep in our territory on the last tackle of the set. 
If any player was ready for a little dab to the line they weren’t quick enough to get the ball which was emeasxeadiky dealt with by the opposition. 
 

Same passes from a penalty. Wakefield Ram are you sure you weren’t at the match?

I do believe Briggs is injured, but not what it might be. Overheard someone talking to Jamie Field who said he now plays for Hunslet. Asked why he left us, he said that our coach doesn’t like him!

Edited February 9 by Crown Flatter

[graham fisher]

52 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

Why aren't we looking to get a prop on loan? 

Hopefully one coming in this week

[NickD]

3 hours ago, Crown Flatter said:

The young referee was repeatedly “old manned” by Oldham, awarding numerous set restarts for what offence was hard for me to determine and he allowed them to hold down without penalty.

Steady CF.    You’ll have BSJ to answer to.   I suspect the referee was perfection personified and it was alL down to poor discipline on our part.  

Edited February 9 by NickD

[graham fisher]

58 minutes ago, graham fisher said:

Hopefully one coming in this week

Announcement at 5-30 today.