Oldham 34 York 12: York’s top-four hopes in setback at Oldham

The Knights led 12-6 at half-time but the Roughyeds, playing down the Whitebank slope in the second half, hit back with five tries without reply, including three in the last 10 minutes to give the scoreboard a lopsided look.

The Knights are now hanging onto the last play-off place on points difference.

A mistake by full-back Ben Dent under a high kick from Lewis Palfrey and a good chase saw Danny Langtree give Oldham the lead early on, with Palfrey’s conversion – the first of his five on the day – taking him past 500 points for the club.

But York thereafter edged the first half, making fewer mistakes and having the better share of territory, benefitting with tries by Brad Nicholson and Mark Applegarth, both converted by Dent.

Their second try, however, was followed by a change for the worse in the weather, with bright sunshine replaced by wind and rain, which made the contest more of a dogfight and probably suited the hosts.

York had a try by Jack Blagbrough ruled out 10 minutes into the second period and they were left to rue both this and not making more of their first-half superiority as Oldham quickly levelled through Michael Ward.

Tries by Jack Holmes and Phil Joy then put the hosts clear and second-row Josh Crowley, who excelled in the final quarter, bagged a brace to seal matters.

Oldham: Gee, Clay, Robinson, Connor, Holmes, Palfrey, Hewitt, Joy, Owen, Neal, Langtree, Crowley, Thompson. Substitutes: Mason, Files, Hughes, Ward.

York: B Dent, Clare, Channing, Minikin, Morrison, Howden, Presley, Applegarth, P Smith, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Nicholson. Substitutes: Brining, Cunningham, Blagborough, Mallinder.

Referee: D Merrick (RFL).