Keighley Cougars 12-20 Oldham RL: Yeds are crowned champions

It was a victory for those diehard Oldham fans, who had travelled in huge numbers to see their side return to the championship for the first time since 2019.

Success has long been overdue for this former Super League side, and good times have certainly been hard to come by – Oldham has spent most of the 21st century outside of the top two divisions.

Crowds had dwindled, with the club averaging around the 500 mark as fans struggled to envision a future where professional rugby in Oldham could flourish as it once did.

That is not a slight on the previous regime, which kept the flame burning while having to constantly play outside of the Oldham borough whenever the club tasted any form of success.

It has been a rapid rise for Oldham who have, this season, become one of the most exciting outfits in the sport outside of the top flight.

A new-found optimism encircles the club, thanks to chairman Bill Quinn’s investment and the return of club legend Mike Ford as managing director.

And fans are gradually returning to the club, which now plays its rugby at Boundary Park – a stadium ready made for Super League – with attendances reaching levels not seen in decades.

On the field, Sean Long has turned Oldham into a side that is incredibly tough to beat – conceding just over a try a game on average – but also one that is, when in possession, an exciting, attacking outfit.

Those qualities were on show today where Roughyeds defended a ten-minute onslaught from Cougars in the second half who threw everything at it to prevent Oldham promotion on their home turf.

It was as good a start as Sean Long’s men could have hoped for when they scored three tries in a blistering opening 20 minutes.

The warning signs were there early on for Keighley when winger Mo Agoro dived in on the right, but he was adjudged to be in touch.

Roughyeds sensed something and opted for that wing again, and thanks to the pace of Laulu-Togaga’e, which drew in defenders, Agoro didn’t make the same mistake twice to put Oldham in front inside ten minutes.

An unforced Keighley error, from inside their own ten metre line, was costly with Oldham doubling their score, direct from the scrum, and it was that same move again with Laulu-Togaga’e drawing out defenders to allow Agoro to dive over for another.

Oldham’s tricky full-back proved a real handful for Keighley and it was his quick feet which allowed him to sneak in from close range to put Oldham three scores in front.

A bit of indiscipline crept in for Oldham, though, and after an unforced knock-on followed by a penalty, Keighley responded through Brandon Pickersgill who forced his way over.

And in the second half, all the momentum was with the Cougars but after repeat set, after repeat set, Roughyeds refused to be cowed.

Unlike in the previous fixture at Cougar Park, where Jack Miller really ran the show with his set-up plays and deft kicks, today he was nullified.

Keighley had the chances, but it was the last play kicks which was their downfall.

After weathering the Cougars storm, Oldham were emboldened after indiscipline crept in for Keighley.

And just after the hour mark, Oldham made the man advantage count when George Hirst flattened a Cougars defender to force his way over to restore Oldham’s three score advantage.

There was a sense of jubilation as the hooter rang, after a four year absence – Oldham will be back in the championship in 2025.

Scorers:

Keighley: goals, Miller 2/2; tries, Pickersgill, Robson

Oldham: goals, Dixon 2/4; tries, Agoro x2, Laulu-Togaga’e, Hirst

TEAMS:

KEIGHLEY: Pickersgill; McEwan-Peters, Ryder, Sa’u, Walkley; Thomas, Miller; Maher, Flanagan, Revell, Robson, Parker, Kesik. Subs: Bishop, Brown, Ioane, Schofield (all used). 18th Man: Junior Nu’u

OLDHAM: Laulu-Togaga’e; Agoro, Jack Johnson, Turner, Dixon; Craven, Ellis; Farnworth, Wildie, T.Chapelhow, Taylor, Hirst, Moran. Subs: Aldridge, Kopczak, Sidlow, Lawton (all used). 18th Man: Tyrer

Ref: Matty Lynn; HT: 6-14; Pens: 7-4; Att: 2,174