WORKINGTON Town served up their worst performance of the season by a distance in a game that was dominated by the hosts and saw Town not touch the ball for a 25-minute period at one stage.
Town made the trip to Bower Fold on Sunday, having had a week off for the 1895 cup fixtures, and headed to an Oldham side who put 70+ past Hunslet last week to progress in the respective competition.
The week off did enable Town to get some well-earned rest for some key players; however, they would go without Zarrin Galea, who failed his HIA after being on the receiving end of a kick to the head against the Midlands.
The club also released a statement on the injuries sustained to Spencer Fulton, Tuarae Rawhiti, and Mason Lewthwaite, as the trio has all returned to full training following head knocks and soft tissue injuries.
Oscar Doran is also on his way back following a tissue injury, while on the opposite side of the treatment table, there are no confirmed return dates for Stevie Scholey (Rib), Jake Bradley (Ankle), or Ross Ainley (Shoulder). All this and more can be seen on the Town website.
Town in the week also announced the departure of Delaine Gittens-Bedward, who was later announced as being in the Halifax Panthers line-up to take on Widnes.
The Yeds’ side was once again scattered with Super League talent as former Wakefield man Adam Milner, ex-Warrington and Catalans star Josh Drinkwater, and Salford Red Devils (now Salford RLFC) star Jack Walker linked up amongst the 17 for the hosts.
The day started with troubles on the road as a broken-down bus saw the supporters making their way in cars, as the team took the only available bus remaining.
The game started in confusing circumstances for Town when the football markings caught Jake Carter from the resulting set.
Oldham were awarded a penalty against a suspect, though it looked like a strip that looked to just come loose, in which Keiran Dixon managed to score past the on-looking Braden Leigh. Dean converting for 6-0.
The return set saw Oldham make 85 meters before being stopped to give Town first use of the ball, such was the press of Oldham.
Oldham forced their second dropout, and with it, Dixon’s electric pace was once again at the fore as he outstripped Town, Dean going 2/2 and 12-0 to the good in 10 minutes.
Town were further under the pump when Luke Bland awarded the hosts a penalty five meters out of an apart escort, which Oldham dually took advantage of in baking heat as Reilly Dean split Farrer and Rawhiti to score near the posts, adding his conversion for 18-0 just after the 15-minute mark.
It became back-to-back tries for Oldham as Jaron Purcell linked up superbly with Ted Chapelhow to score beside the posts for 24-0, Dean going 4/4 as Town still had not seen the ball in 15 minutes.
Oldham scored their 5th try inside 20 minutes as former Sheffield Eagles star Bailey Liu crashed over despite Callum Phillips best efforts, Dean continuing his 100% record with the boot to see the Yeds out to 30-0.
Lucas Castle was lucky not to be seeing 10 minutes in the bin on the kick off after taking Dixon in the Air as the frustration grew amongst the visitors.
The referee then awarded two penalties to send Town down the pitch and give them their only attacking set of the half as Wear forced a dropout. As Town managed to score through Corkill, Carter missed the kick for 30-4.
Oldham restored their 30-point lead when Matty Ashurst was the beneficiary of a huge forward pass from Drinkwater to get over.
Dean is going 6/6 and sending Oldham out to 36-4 on 31 minutes.
The kick off produced what looked to be an Oldham knock on, but the decision went the way of the hosts, who were hunting once again as Dean scored his second of the afternoon on 32 minutes.
Oldham hit the forty-point mark. Dean was going 7/6, and Oldham were 40-4 to the good.
Town, to their credit, did get back on the scoreboard as good runs from Grant Reid laid a platform for Guy Graham; however, the Scottish international was held up.
It went from bad to worse for Town when a knock on was awarded as a penalty, and Dixon looked to be over before being penalised for obstruction.
The return set was a success for Oldham, who scored once again as Dean went over for his hat-trick to take the score to 46-4 with a successful conversion.
The second half started better for Town as Lannon knocked on from the first tackle. As Wear placed a neat kick, Dixon was more than equal to it and cleaned up possession.
However, the scrappy play continued with Dickinson going high on Nisbet. A big break from Geyer was thwarted by a forward pass as Leigh later threw the pass into touch.
The niggle between Dickinson and Nisbet continued with the Town winger putting the Oldham flyer into touch on 48 minutes.
Town regained the ball on 49 minutes with a fortuitously executed call of forward.
Town railed again as Purcell flopped on another penalty, which was later awarded for offside as Dean knocked the ball out of the hand of Rawhiti.
The good work is being undone by an obstruction.
Oldham were able to break the second half deadlock when Ewan Moore touched down on 55 minutes following a lovely Drinkwater kick to see the Yeds pass 50 as Dean converted for 52-4.
Oldham proved fallible when knocking on from the return set. A wild pass from Wear then allowed Leigh to kick through, but only force a dropout, Town were adjudged to have lost the ball on contact.
The Roughyeds express then continued on the Stalybridge tracks as a huge step from Bailey Liu, who sent him past 3 Town defenders to score in the 65th minute.
Dean is knocking his goal over for 58-4. Oldham went back to back, hitting 60 as Luke Forber, signed from stricken side Crusaders, leaped highest to catch a Drinkwater kick as Dean converted in front of the posts for 64-4 on 67 minutes.
In 70 minutes, the try of the game came when Oldham ran the virtual length of the pitch as Ewan Moore scored out on the touchline. Dean missed the kick to keep the score under 70 points, 68-4.
Town's afternoon looked go from bad to worse when Dickinson took Dixon high as the officials met in the middle of the pitch, the Town winger was lucky to get away with a caution and a penalty only.
Oldham then crossed the 70 point mark on 78 minutes when Sam Littler crashed over under the posts as 400 career appearance man Matty Ashurst converted the goal, much to the delight of the hosts.
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