BEN O’KEEFE scored four tries as Roughyeds ran riot in a 72-0 win over Cornwall – their first game since being crowned the League One champions, writes Kasey Smith.

It was one of Oldham’s biggest ever wins against the Choughs who usually give Roughyeds a run for their money, but they were never in the contest.

Even after last Sunday’s jubilation and the post match celebrations which followed, which went well into the night, it was back to business as Oldham scored 14 tries and kept their fifth clean sheet of the season.

Sean Long made seven changes to the squad which won the title at Cougar Park last week, but even that did not disrupt Oldham’s flow and it was the players which came in who really shone.

It took just six minutes for Oldham to open the scoring and it came after Cornwall failed to deal with a high-hanging Jamie Ellis kick.

Jumah Sambou – a tall, pacey and commanding outlet on the right flank – batted Ellis’ kick into the path of O’Keefe who powered his way over for the first score.

Bailey Aldridge exposed gaps in the Cornwall defence all afternoon, and Oldham reaped the rewards from his quick darts out of dummy half – it was from there that the Roughyeds doubled their score.

After Aldridge darted through a gap, he had Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e in support who ran under the posts and unselfishly handed to Adam Sidlow to ground for the first try of his Oldham career.

Next, it was Logan Astley who sidestepped several weak Cornwall attempts at a tackle as he ducked and dived his way over for Oldham’s third. And Ellis kicked the conversion – his 500th goal across his career.

There was good set-up play from Ellis as he played in O’Keefe who darted to the line at pace to ground for his second.

Cornwall were incapable of building any pressure due to their indiscipline – they conceded ten penalties across the 80 minutes.

And Oldham wanted more – it was 30-0 after Jordan Turner powered his way past three Cornwall defenders on the line for his 150th career try.

Just before half-time, Craig Kopczak got Oldham’s sixth when he forced his way over from close range after a lay-off from Pat Moran.

And after the break, Oldham continued their hot form as Cian Tyrer ran through in the corner to score.

O’Keefe secured his hat-trick 50 minutes into the game with a stunning move, effortlessly lifting the ball one-handed over the Cornwall defenders before grounding it as if it were glued to his palm.

Cornwall did have their moments, and if Coby Nichol could have held onto Wadlimar Matahwa’s offload he’d have been in for an almost certain try on the right wing.

The Choughs threatened to score two length-of-the-field tries but on both occasions there were Roughyeds defenders aplenty racing back to halt the advances – yet another sign of the hard-working mentality boss Sean Long has instilled into the side.

And the tries kept coming, Johnson got in on the act while O’Keefe grabbed another. After the hour mark, there was more for Tyrer and Turner as well as a brace for Sambou.

Oldham: goals, Ellis 8/14; tries, O’Keefe x4, Sidlow, Astley, Turner x2, Kopczak, Johnson, Tyrer x2, Sambou x2

Oldham: Laulu-Togaga’e; Sambou, O’Keefe, Turner, Tyrer; Astley, Ellis; Farnworth, Aldridge, T.Chapelhow, Hirst, Taylor, Sidlow. Subs: Wildie, Moran, Josh Johnson, Kopczak (all used). 18th Man: Jack Johnson

Cornwall: Brown; Matawha, Nichol, Ashton, Aaronson; Punchard, Rusling; Dimech, Conroy, Gill, Bateman, Simpson, Lloyd. Subs: Mitchell, Weetman, Bannister, Gray (all used). 18th Man: Marvin.

Ref: Aaryn Belafonte; HT: 36-0; Pens: 10-4; Att: 1,421