Oldham RLFC 44-0 Hunslet RLFC
After good performances in recent weeks against the Championships leading sides Hunslet fell well short away to Oldham today (29 March 2026) at Stalybridge Celtic FC in what was probably their worst performance of the season.
Missing loan players from Doncaster and Leeds who have impressed recently and some injuries to key players, The Parksiders seemed sluggish and short on ideas.
It was true that players were coming back after injury lay-offs and changes in personnel meant the squad had to be shuffled, players in different positions, but it was still unlike the Hunslet of recent games.
It started so brightly when after the first set a Lee Gaskell kick hit the posts and caused havoc in the Oldham defence, but Hunslet were short on ideas and rushed a second kick under pressure enabling Oldham to survive.
On 3 minutes Jake Bibby opened the scoring when Hunslet were caught short on their right edge, and 7 minutes later an Oldham grubber was fumbled for Jack Walker to pounce. 8-0 as both conversions were missed.
Hunslet had threatened on both flanks, but the final ball went to ground whilst Oldham played simple effective rugby.
Hunslet’s re-start had gone dead and so Oldham were piggy backed up field, on 14 minutes quick play to the right saw Ben O’Keefe go over. 14-0
A bit of luck for The Roughyeds on 25 minutes as a kick through was dribbled back in play by Bibby only to bounce off Agoro, the Ref deeming the ball to have been played at. The resulting set saw Matty Ashurst score and 3 minutes later a loose ball was picked up for Jack Walker to sprint over for his second try. 26-0 after 27 minutes with Josh Drinkwater now finding his kicking boots.
On 35 minutes Ryan Lannon celebrated his 200th appearance slicing easily through the Hunslet defence. 32-0 at the break.
The second half couldn’t be as bad for Hunslet, but on 48 minutes Oldham scored again as a kick on the outside of the boot was plucked from the air by winger Tom Nisbet to score, superb skill or luck, nothing was going right for Hunslet. 38-0
The Parksiders were not on each other’s wavelength and at times looked like strangers with the ball, but their defence did improve scrambling well against a good Oldham attack.
On 67 minutes the final try was scored by Josh Drinkwater who cut through a hole and converted to end his day with a 16 point haul. 44-0
This is a game Hunslet will want to forget and put it down to a bad day at the office, the next few games are winnable and if they are to turn this season around it starts next Saturday at Cougar Park, Keighley (kick off at 1pm).
Harrison Gilmore and Myles Harrop never stopped and Jimmy Watson as ever did a job for the team.
Oldham RLFC: Walker, Nisbet, Davies, O’Keefe, Bibby, Smith, Drinkwater, Chappelhow, Wildie, Liu, Ashurst, Day, Purcell. Interchange: Geyer, Milner, Lannon, Geener. 18th player: Dean.
Hunslet RLFC: Abram, Agoro, Graham, Harrop, Watson, Gaskell, Jowitt, Hallas, Berry, O’Hanlon, Gilmore, Whittel, Battye. Interchange: Corbett, Simpson, Carr, Leake. 18th player: Morgan.
Photo: Charlie Graham attempts to offload to Billy Jowitt (Nathan Robinson – Apertunes)
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