Featherstone 8 Oldham 6: Chris Ulugia at double for Rovers

FEATHERSTONE made it two wins from two games by edging out Oldham in heavy conditions.

Centre Chris Ulugia was the match-winner, scoring a try in each half as Rovers came out on top in a dour contest.

Trailing 6-4 at the break, they struck a crucial blow with New Zealander Ulugia’s second score in the 46th minute and then defended superbly to soak up sustained Oldham pressure.

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Rovers coach Jon Sharp said: “To do what we did and the amount of defending we did on our own try line was confirmation of what I already knew that we are a really good defensive team.”

Oldham scored the first try when Scott Leatherbarrow’s grubber kick set up a score for Scott Turner that Leatherbarrow goaled.

Ulugia was held up over line as Rovers rallied but their handling let them down in tricky conditions. They eventually found a way through in the 25th minute when Anthony Thackeray cleverly switched play for Ulugia to slide over.

Rovers made the ideal start in the second-half when Ulugia went in at the corner after excellent play by John Davies. Kenny Hughes was held up over the line as Rovers did well to survive Oldham pressure.

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The visitors had a golden chance to level matters nine minutes from time when Featherstone were penalised for a tackle that was put on report but Leatherbarrow’s easy kick at goal from 30 yards out went wide.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman; Briscoe, Hardcastle, Ulugia, Handley; Thackeray, Wildie; Bostock, Carlile, Cooper, Davies, Walton, Tagg. Substitutes: Briggs, Walters, Ormondroyd, Griffin.

Oldham: Turner; Clay, Egodo, Grimshaw, Gill; Leatherbarrow, Hewitt; Neal, Owen, Joy, Wood, Langtree, Spencer. Substitutes: Ward, Mason, Burke, Hughes.

Referee: T Grant (Leeds).

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