OLDHAM made a potentially decisive move in the Betfred League 1 title race yesterday, as they thrashed visiting Keighley Cougars 44-6.
Both sides have taken turns to lead the way this season, with only the champions getting automatic promotion to the Championship.
Whoever finishes second will be forced to try and win the play-offs in order to go up, and that looks like being Keighley after yesterday’s one-sided affair.
OIdham now lead the table by three points with six games left to play, though they still have to visit Cougar Park again next month.
That was the scene of their only defeat of the season, with Keighley winning 28-18 back in May.
But Oldham will be favourites to avenge that loss based on yesterday’s encounter.
Cougars made a bad start in Greater Manchester, as their former winger Mo Agoro crossed for Oldham’s opening try after only eight minutes.
Jordan Turner added a second try for Oldham midway through the first half, with that converted by Kieran Dixon to give the hosts a 10-0 lead.
A penalty goal increased their advantage on the half-hour mark, before Brad Gallagher added a third try for the hosts just before the break.
Dixon converted that, then landed a penalty on the hooter, as Oldham took a healthy 20-0 lead into the interval.
Cougars vice-captain Aaron Brown was unable to do much about the Oldham tidal wave his side faced yesterday. (Image: Kevin Creighton.)
A miserable afternoon for Keighley continued with Jack Miller having to come off for a HIA 10 minutes into the second half, moments before Agoro claimed his second try.
Dixon’s conversion made the score 26-0, but Cougars gave themselves faint hope when Jordan Schofield crossed the whitewash, Dan Parker adding the extras with Miller off the field.
Danny Craven’s try for Oldham with 13 minutes to go ended the game as a contest, Dixon converting for 32-6.
Jack Johnson made his way over for the home side’s sixth try late on, before soon making it a brace to compound Cougars’ misery.
Dixon converted both of those efforts to ensure a massive win for the hosts, as Jake Webster’s first game in interim charge at Keighley ended in humiliation.
The Cougars must raise themselves for a home game against play-off chasing Midlands Hurricanes this coming Sunday, knowing they must keep winning if they want to take advantage of any more Oldham slip-ups in the end of season run-in.
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