MATCH REPORT: Oldham 18-18 London Broncos

MATCH REPORT: Oldham 18-18 London Broncos

In the final pre-season friendly of 2024 London Broncos made the trip up to League One outfit Oldham. It was a largely similar squad that made the trip up to Huddersfield just 7 days earlier, minus Bill Leyland who picked up an ACL injury and will now miss the rest of the season.

Oldham got the game underway and instantly put the Super League side under some pressure with blustery winds making it very difficult under the high ball. A couple of penalties were conceded, the latter by the home side and James Meadows kicked into the Oldham half. It wasn’t long after the 5th minute that the deadlock was broken with Meadows racing onto a grubber from Oli Leyland to just get his hands on it and apply the downward pressure. The try was under the posts and made Leyland’s conversion a formality and the 6 points were secured.

It was a really bright start to the game from London which was in stark contrast to the previous two friendlies where it had taken a while to warm into it. The Broncos were soon to be over the line again, this time a sweeping move to the left and a perfectly timed pass from Rourke saw Iliess Macani score the try. The kick was missed by Rourke from a very difficult angle out on the touchline.

Oldham were building into the game and there were lots of penalties being conceded by either side, a variety of sloppy play and some getting used to new regulations.

It was a modest crowd of just over a thousand but they were getting louder as the pressure was beginning to come from Sean Long’s Oldham. It was no real surprise when a kick through was met by the impressive Cian Tyrer who scored the try. Jamie Ellis then successfully kicked a difficult conversion from the far right touchline.

At the half-time break there was a slight reshuffling of the pack as Campagnolo replaced Boafo and Oli Leyland went to the full back position. Oli had moved there in the first half after Josh Rourke had been withdrawn with a serious looking injury.

Five minutes into the second half and Oldham took the lead. Jordan Paga broke through the line and evaded a couple of tackles before managing to turn his body to get the ball down. An impressive try for Paga but one which would have left the Broncos players wondering how they’d not stopped him sooner. Tyrer kicked to put Oldham 12-10 in front.

There were then plenty of changes throughout with Lovell coming back on for Waine and Butler on for Stock. The momentum was now back with London as they looked for a way to retake the lead. It was just after the hour mark when the first try of the second half was scored through Sadiq Adebiyi. With the ball making its way out to the left, Adebiyi timed his run from deep perfectly as he flew through the gap and was able to run over unnaposed. Leyland’s conversion went wide but Broncos were back in front 12-14.

From the restart the high kick was held up in the wind before dropping and bouncing back into the hands of the on rushing Oldham players. The resulting set saw the Broncos need to produce some staunch goal-line defending to maintain the lead.

Lee Kershaw had seen limited opportunities so far but had his first sight of the try line in the 69th minute but was stopped just short. Although he wasn't to be made to wait too long before he got his try. In the 71st minute the ball was moved quickly out to the right and Lovell found Kershaw who was too quick and finished the move. Oli wasn’t having much luck with the boot and his kick went across the posts and the score was 12-18.

Oldham weren't to be disheartened knowing they were only a converted try away from levelling the game back up and in the 75th minute they had an opportunity to do so. Emerson Whittle with the try and Ellis had the chance to bring the game level with the kick but his attempt crashed off the post and stayed out. 16-18 with just a couple of minutes to go.

With the home side’s tails up and pushing for a win London conceded a penalty around 20 metres out and not far off from the centre. Understandably Oldham opted to kick for goal and take the draw. It was Tyrer who had the responsibility and he made no mistake as he levelled the game with almost the last action of the afternoon.

Oldham 18-18 London Broncos

TEAM: Rourke, Kershaw, Hoyes, Storey, Macani, O.Leyland, Meadows, Butler, Davies, Kennedy, Lovell, Adebiyi, Parata. INTERCHANGES: Stock, Williams, Waine, Boafo, Campagnolo.