OLDHAM players and coaches always knew they would face a big ask in their fourth-round Coral Challenge Cup tie at Widnes Vikings and so it proved when they conceded nine tries in a 52-12 defeat.
Matt Diskin's men couldn't play dual-reg centre Jack Croft and on-loan forwards Jimmy Beckett and Titus Gwaze because they would have been cup-tied and unable to play for their parent clubs if required to do so later in the competition.
Dan Abram and Danny Langtree scored Oldham tries, but Widnes started off like a house on fire, aided and abetted by weak Oldham tackling and defensive work, and led 30-6 at half-time before adding another 22 points in the second half.
It was 52-6 before Langtree picked up a loose ball on the last play of the game to score a simple try which Abram converted – his second goal of the afternoon.
Head coach Matt Diskin will expect much more from his troops in next Sunday's more important Championship clash with Bradford Bulls at Bower Fold, Stalybridge (3pm kick off).
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