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LEEDS RHINOS 50 OLDHAM 4

LOOKING resplendent in their smart new kit, Oldham did everything that was asked, or expected, of them at Headingley against a full-strength Leeds Rhinos side in Kevin Sinfield's testimonial match.
 
Sinny dearly wanted to share his big day with his home-town club and his home-town rugby league supporters and the Roughyeds obliged with 80 minutes of honest endeavour which earned the admiration of their own fans and the respect of the Rhinos faithful in the South Stand, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
 
The Super League champions scored nine tries, including Keith Senior's hat-trick and two late ones for Sinny, but the score failed to reflect Oldham's tireless contribution on a day when five players wore Roughyeds jerseys for the first time -- centres Danny Halliwell and Mick Nanyn, winger Marcus St Hilaire and subs Tommy Goulden and Phil Joseph.
 
The other three new signings, Tommy Grundy, Simon Baldwin and Daryl Cardiss, were not called upon on this occasion, while Lucas Onyango, Lee Wingfield, Richard Mervill and Lee Sanderson were also ruled out.
 
Roughyeds played with six on the bench, including Drew Houston and John Hough, who had the honour of leading out the side in his farewell appearance as a player and then getting 12 minutes of game time midway through the second half.
 
The absence of Baldwin and Mervill put huge responsibility on the shoulders of props Warren Stevens and Jason Boults, both of whom came up trumps with strong and industrious performances against the likes of Kylie Leuluai, Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ali Lauitiiti.
 
Oldham defended strongly at all times and were particularly impressive when under extreme pressure on their own line. It was pleasing, too, to see several try-saving tackles on occasions when Rhinos looked to be in the clear, but were then tracked down by spirited Roughyeds defenders who shirked nothing and never once looked in awe of their celebrated opponents.
 
Paul O'Connor, Danny Halliwell and Gareth Langley all worked hard in that respect, while Mick Nanyn and Marcus St Hilaire, on the left flank, were rock solid.
 
Senior, on the other side of the field, caused considerable damage but in the main Roughyeds stood up well to the threat of the home side's classy and polished individuals until Sinny exploded into the action to score a couple of trademark tries with a dummy and a shimmy late in the game.
 
The home side's ability to offload in the tackle kept Steve Deakin's men under pressure for long periods, while the visitors struggled to cope with the Rhinos' expertly-weighted short kicks into Oldham's in-goal area, particularly in the first half.
 
Oldham's best spell came after they had recovered from the shock of going 16-0 down in 13 minutes. For the rest of the half it was nip and tuck with Senior opening his account in the 30th minute and Nanyn replying, courtesy of a magnificent midfield break by James Coyle, on the stroke of half time.
 
Senior added another early in the second half to stretch Leeds out to 28-4, but Roughyeds then touched down by the posts only for the try to be disallowed for an offside infringement.
 
Other Leeds try scorers were Brent Webb, Jones-Buchanan, Scott Donald and Ryan Bailey, while Sinfield landed five conversions and Rob Burrow two.
 
Leeds: Webb; Smith, Toopi, Senior, Donald; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Ellis, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield. Subs: Lauitiiti, Kirke, Bailey, Scruton.
 
Oldham: O'Connor; Langley, Halliwell, Nanyn, St Hilaire; Roden, Coyle; Boults, Hoyle, Stevens, Robinson, Roberts, Baines. Subs: Brooks, Goulden, Houston, Tamghart, Hough, Joseph.
 
Referee: Ben Thaler: Att: 4,217.
 
What they said:
 
Oldham coach Steve Deakin: "Despite the score it was an outstanding effort. At times we stood toe-to-toe with them and matched them. We have made massive gains in strength with all our gym work and that was amply demonstrated with a lot of our defensive work.
 
"Our defensive structure was good and offensively we asked questions of them. The biggest difference was in speed of execution, but for 15 to 20 minutes in the first half we matched them and we got our reward with Mick Nanyn's try following that terrific break by James Coyle.
 
"Nanyn followed him well and showed good speed and strength to hold off challengers when chasing James's kick and then putting boot to the ball again before touching down.
 
"Stevens and Boults were outstanding up front, but it would be churlish really to pick out individuals because it was a good effort by all concerned. We'll have gained from the run-out, no doubt about that."
 
He revealed that Coyle wasn't used in the second half as a precaution because of a slight groin problem, but also said that Langley might have fractured a thumb and was due to have an x-ray on Monday.
 
Oldham chief executive Chris Hamilton, speaking formally on behalf of the club at the official post-match reception in the Lewis Jones Suite: "Everyone knows Kevin (Sinfield) is a good guy and a superb player and, as a club, we were proud to be invited to play in his testimonial.
 
"We think we have recruited well. It was our first hit-out and we felt the players did well, especially defensively.
 
"Of course, we let Sinny in for a couple of tries near the end so as not to spoil his day. Seriously though, he is the consummate professional and a great ambassador in the way he represents the Leeds club on and off the field. That came through very clearly in all the talks he has had with us about the match in the past few weeks. He clearly has a soft-spot for us.
 
"He has had his ups and downs over the years, but he is never heard to moan or whinge and he always shows what he is made off by bouncing back in the style of the true professional. On behalf of everyone at the Oldham club, I would like to wish him well for the rest of hsi benefit year."
 
Kevin Sinfield, man of the moment: "It was great just to get playing again, and fantastic to be playing against my hometown team with all my family here. Over the years, whenever there has been a cup draw, I have prayed that Leeds and Oldham would be paired together because I am very proud of my Oldham roots. I used to be a ball boy at Watersheddings.
 
"It meant everything to me to be playing against Oldham today --- nobody else will ever know just how much it meant -- and I would like to thank Chris Hamilton, Bill Quinn and Sean Whitehead for enabling it to happen."
 
Barrie McDermott, speaking to guests in the Lewis Jones suite before the game: "Kevin is everybody's perfect role model, both on and off the field. I travelled from Oldham with him for eight years and we never had one cross word . . . that was because I was always right!
 
"Like me, he is proud to be from Oldham. We were just glad that we could come over here and show you Yorkshire folk how to play the game!"