Workington Town 10 Oldham 32

A below-par performance from Workington Town saw Oldham claim a Cumbrian double in League One this season, winning 32-10.

After a tight opening quarter, Oldham took their chances well, while Town failed to make any real breakthrough.

Jamie Doran was the bright spot for Town, as he looked to try and create chances but the support was often lacking.

The game started in the worst possible fashion for Town as Oldham got over the whitewash with just 1.23 minutes on the clock.

The kick-off from Jordan Tansey went dead and Oldham powered their way up to the Town line and Liam Bent crashed over. But the normally reliable Paul Crook was off target with his kick.

Town looked to bounce right back and they saw two good chances go to waste.

First, they were pulled back as the ref deemed the pass from Stevie Scholey to Oliver Wilkes forward as they closed in on the line.

Then Caine Barnes, the former Seaton amateur on loan from Wigan, spotted a gap in the Oldham defence and exploited it, running 60-metres before being hauled down agonisingly close to the line.

But they got their just rewards on nine minutes as a lovely little pass out of the back of his hand from Carl Forber released Nicholas Gregson and he raced the final 15 metres to score, Jamie Foster tagging on the extras.

Town got close on a couple more occasions but they couldn't add to their score and then Oldham hit back.

The Roughyeds were near the Town line when Danny Langtree got out of the tackle and scampered over, this time Crook adding the goal.

They were nearly in again when a Luke Nelmes offload almost put in Luke Hooley but the ball was knocked forward and Town breathed a sigh of relief.

A great tackle from Karl Olstrom in front of the popular side put the Oldham player into touch to give the home side a chance but again it petered out.

Oldham began putting Town under increasing amounts of pressure, making good yards downfield with each set.

But thankfully for the home team, they also seemed to struggle to find the final ball to get across the whitewash.

Then, in the final minute of the half, Oldham got a scrum 20-metres out from the Town line and it came quickly out to the left when Lee Kershaw rounded the defence to score.

The hooter sounded for half-time as Crook lined up the kick and he missed it but the visitors still led 6-14.

The second half began in a tough fashion with both sides looking to gain some headway.

A kick from Jamie Doran was put dead by Oldham forcing a drop-out but the length of that kick caught Town out and they were left backpedalling well into their own half.

A fine piece of individual brilliance from Oldham full-back Luke Hooley edged his side further in front.

He got the ball 30-metres out and danced in and out of a flailing Town defence to touch down, with Crook converting.

Jamie Doran was then sent to the sin-bin for a shoulder charge on Kieran Gill, leaving Town down to 12 men.

And with just seconds gone after he left the pitch, Oldham were over again, Phil Joy getting the ball down and Crook adding the extras.

Elliott Miller tried to pick up the pace for Workington, racing up the right touchline but, as the tackle came in, he let the pass go and it was picked up by Oldham.

Town picked up a penalty for an incident which was put on report for an alleged bite on Town skipper Ollie Wilkes.

And this seemed to spur them on as they attacked the Oldham line and Elliott Miller surged over, taking several defenders with him.

Foster could not add the extras on from wide out but it had seemed to give Town a boost and Karl Olstom broke out of a loose tackle to get them back on the attack.

They moved the ball quickly across but a bad tackle on Doran halted them before a series of penalties saw them camped 15-metres out.

Doran managed to get over the line but the referee brought them back for obstruction, much to the disgust of the Town faithful.

With six minutes remaining, Oldham found themselves down to 12 men when Bent was sent to cool his heels in the sin bin for throwing a punch.

But, despite having a man advantage, Town could not pull back Oldham's advantage.

John Patrick tried to force his way over in the corner but he went into touch before he could get the ball down.

And Oldham were the team that finished in the ascendancy as Matthew Reid broke and fed David Hewitt who escaped the clutches of Miller to get over the line and Crook converted as the hooter sounded for a final score of 10-32.

Tansey, Rooke, Miller, Foster, Patrick, Doran, Forber, Wilkes, Newton, Scholey, Gregson, Olstrom, Barnes. Subs: Leatherbarrow, Singleton, Blagbrough, Cunningham.

Tries: Gregson 9, Miller 65.

Goals: Foster 1/2

Sin bin: Doran 54.

Oldham: Hooley, Eccleston, Reid, Gill, Kershaw, Crook, Hewitt, Joy, Hughes, Spencer, Bridge, Langtree, Bent. Subs: Jones, Owen, Wilkinson, Nelmes.

Tries: Bent 1, Langtree 19, Kershaw 39, Hooley 49, Joy 54, Hewitt 79.

Goals: Crook 3/5

Sin Bin: Bent 74.

Referee: Nicholas Bennett.

Half time: 6-14.

Penalties: 11-8

Crowd: 712.