MATCH REPORT: OLDHAM 66 HURRICANES 0

Phil Cowburn was the Hurricanes’ man of the match on a tough afternoon. Pic: SWPix

OLDHAM 66 MIDLANDS HURRICANES 0

DAVE MUSSON, Vestacare Stadium, Sunday 12 June 2022

THE HURRICANES rounded off the first half of the season with an afternoon to forget in Greater Manchester, as they were swamped by a clinical Oldham side.

Two tries apiece from Robbie Butterworth, Jordan Andrade and Joe Hartley, plus scores from Dane Windrow, James Thornton, Owen Restall, Connor Carr, Calvin Wellington, and Martyn Ridyard secured a comprehensive victory for the Roughyeds, who the Hurricanes would have leapfrogged in the table had they been able to win.

For the visitors, it was well and truly an off day - a blip where nothing seemed to go right for them.

What was frustrating for the Hurricanes was that the first 20 minutes were a tight, competitive game. The only score came from Butterworth after ten minutes, but the Hurricanes looked good and even had a Hayden Freeman chalked off for a forward pass.

However, a devastating second quarter of the game swung the balance firmly in Oldham’s favour, with tries from Windrow, Thornton, Andrade, and Restall giving them a commanding half time lead.

Any hopes of a Hurricanes fightback after the break were doused in the first set of the half, with Butterworth scoring again.

After that, the half was a procession of Roughyeds tries, with Carr, Andrade, Hartley twice, Wellington, and Whittel crossing the line.

The Hurricanes also ended the game a man down, with AJ Boardman sinbinned just before the final hooter.

It was a bruising encounter for the Hurricanes, who now have a three-week break to mull it over before they welcome Rochdale to Portway on Sunday 3 July - kick off 3pm.

Hurricanes Man of the Match: Phil Cowburn

MATCHFACTS

OLDHAM: Restall, Cooke, Wellington, Carr, Hartley, Ridyard, Butterworth, Neimes, Jinks, Spencer, Windrow, Thornton, Whittel.

Subs (all used): O’Donnell, Andrade, Cameron, Flynn

Tries: Restall, Windrow, Thornton, Andrade (2), Butterworth (2), Carr, Hartley (2), Wellington, Ridyard.

Goals: Riyad 9/12

HURRICANES: Cowburn, Townend, Croston, Lawton, Freeman, Collins, Hardcastle, Kenja, Windley, Spiers, Clavering, Dawson, Walton.

Subs (all used): Bull, Boardman, Newbound, Cullimore

Sinbin: Boardman

Half time: 26-0

Referee: Bradley Milligan

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 26-0, 32-0, 38-0, 44-0, 50-0, 54-0, 60-0, 66-0.