Josh Drinkwater earns Oldham a dramatic draw with Batley Bulldogs

OLDHAM 18 BATLEY BULLDOGS 18
IAN WILSON, Boundary Park, Sunday

IF Oldham thought they were going to waltz through the Championship untroubled after recent results, they were very quickly disabused by a hugely impressive Batley side that simply never allowed them time or space enough to go through the paces they have previously been demonstrating this season.

Indeed, the visitors, on a wild Boundary Park afternoon, were in the end unlucky not to go home with both points, as the Roughyeds only managed to draw level as a result of a superb conversion from the touchline by Josh Drinkwater in the 78th minute.

Early on, Batley seemed a little overawed, and two poor errors close to their own line gifted Oldham possession that the home side had no difficulty in making count.

A Drinkwater dink into in-goal forced six more in the sixth minute, and after Gil Dudson had made huge inroads into the Bulldogs’ defence close to their own posts, simple passing right, and a clever final pass by Riley Dean, gave Jack Johnson room to dash over in the corner. Kieran Dixon was unable to convert across the strong wind, but Oldham had a four-point lead.

And it took only seven more minutes for that lead to be doubled, this time Dean first creating the six-again, Drinkwater being held up over the tryline, and then Dean himself showing nifty footwork to go over half way out. Although Dixon failed to convert again, Oldham seemed well on the way to another comfortable victory.

It was at this point, though, that Mark Moxon’s side began to play. Their line speed and numbers in the tackle began to force Oldham errors, and in turn their pack began to run harder and stronger when it was their turn with the ball. And behind, in Josh Woods, they had just the man to make the most of the stormy conditions. His left boot simply tormented the Oldham back three, and although they did manage to hold on to some of his bombs, by no means all – and his side were able to show they had the backs too to make decent use of space out wide when their pack had earned it.

In the 18th minute, in their first serious attack, Joe Burton almost got over in the left-hand corner. Only Oldham’s superb covering defence kept him out, but nine minutes later they were unable to stop him after efficient passing to the left. Woods’ magnificent touchline conversion brought the margin down to just two points – and another in the 36th minute, from the other side this time, after Jayden Myers had finished well, gave the visitors the lead – though Sean Long will have been very unimpressed by the tackling effort he was able to crash through.

The Batley lead didn’t last long, however, Jack Johnson making the most of good work by Dean again on the half-time hooter for his second unconverted try.

The second half then became an incredible midfield arm-wrestle for the most part, though Burton again was able to make the most of a slight overlap to score in the 52nd minute. In what turned out to be a crucial moment, Woods’ cracking conversion effort bounced out off the upright. He was able to kick a late penalty, though, but had two drop-goal efforts fail, before Oldham’s growing pressure on the brave Bulldogs’ defence at last created something just two minutes from full time.

It was Johnson again who took advantage of another slight overlap to race in just inside the corner flag, with the defence scattered – and Drinkwater’s marvellous conversion left the points shared – and deservedly so.

GAMESTAR: Josh Woods’ kicking from hand caused serious problems for Oldham all afternoon, and that from the tee almost got his side home, if not quite.

GAMEBREAKER: Josh Drinkwater took the responsibility of attempting Oldham’s chance of a match-drawing conversion from the right touchline in the 78th minute – and he was successful.

MATCHFACTS
OLDHAM
31 Phoenix Laulu-Togagae
20 Jack Johnson
4 Iain Thornley
18 Jumah Sambou
2 Kieran Dixon
7 Riley Dean
23 Josh Drinkwater
8 Gil Dudson
14 Bailey Aldridge
15 Jay Chapelhow
11 Matty Ashurst
12 Adam Lawton
13 Adam Milner
Subs (all used)
16 Pat Moran
27 George Hirst
21 Ted Chapelhow
10 Owen Farnworth

Tries: Johnson (7, 40, 78), Dean (14)
Goals: Dixon 0/3, Drinkwater 1/1

BULLDOGS
1 Robbie Butterworth
19 Jack Render
28 Jayden Myers
3 Ollie Greensmith
2 Joe Burton
6 Ben White
7 Josh Woods
16 Nyle Flynn
23 Jonah Parsons
13 James Brown
4 Joe Arundel
11 Dane Manning
14 Brandon Moore
Subs (all used)
17 Luke Blake
9 Alistair Leak
18 Samy Kibula
27 Isaac Shaw