SWINTON LIONS 22

OLDHAM RLFC 22

FAILED attempts on goal at either end of the Heywood Road pitch produced a rare draw when the Betfred Championship's bottom two clashed in a battle to avoid relegation.

A draw was probably a fair result given that these derby rivals each scored four tries and three conversions.

Moreover, Roughyeds dominated the first half and led 12-0 at the break with two converted tries by tearaway prop Tyler Dupree, both goaled by Dan Abram, while the lively Lions were on top in the second half, when they scored all of their 22 points against the visitors' ten.

Lions thought they would grab the lead for a second time when sub winger Deane Meadows equalised with a try wide out on the right two minutes from the end, but Martyn Ridyard's conversion attempt on the angle passed agonisingly wide of the near upright.

With the scores locked up at 22-22, Oldham quickly worked the ball to the other end where Swinton's best forward, two-try Lewis Hatton, lost the ball in a fierce tackle when carrying it out of defence.

It provided Roughyeds with a last-gasp chance of snatching it, but when the ball was worked back to James Barran for a match-winning drop goal, he kicked it high, long -- and wide.

Thus ended a hard-fought game between two equally-matched sides, the draw suiting third-bottom Dewsbury Rams more than Oldham or Swinton.

The Rams lost narrowly at Whitehaven, but because the two points were shared at Heywood Road, they remain four points ahead of Oldham and six ahead of Swinton.

Roughyeds have five points to Swinton's three and they still have to play Rams away, so with final places depending on win percentages it's going to go down to the wire.

Brian McDermott's men started brightly, with full-back Dan Abram to the fore, but they suffered an injury setback when prop Liam Kirk had to go off with a head injury, never to return.

When hooker Jamie Abram, Dan's younger brother, went down the middle from dummy half things were looking good and, sure enough, it wasn't long before strong-man Dupree took the hard-working Danny Bridge's pass standing still and then saw a gap and accelerated away to score.

Abram goaled for a 6-0 lead and although the Lions threatened with good work by Hatton, Ridyard and Geronimo Doyle, Oldham survived and then went further in front.

Dupree did the trick again and with Oldham looking strong on attack and busy and determined on defence, things were looking good for their first win in 11 games.

Swinton had different ideas. They upped their game considerably in the second half when they needed to score first to stay in contention.

Dupree had gone off with an ankle injury and with Kirk in the dressing room as well and both Shaun Pick and Luke Nelmes taking a breather on the bench, Roughyeds spent a period when their only recognised prop on the field was Martyn Reilly.

Quickly taking advantage, Lions forwards Sam Brooks, Ronan Michael, Lewis Hatton and Nick Gregson began to take control and it was no surprise when Hatton surged over for two tries insidde five ten minutes, either side of a try for Oldham in the corner by new-boy Lloyd Roby.

Abram couldn't add the extras for Oldham and Hatton's second try for the Lions, goaled by Gregson, cut the visitors' lead to 16-12.

As the game opened up, Mike Butt crossed in the corner and Ridyard goaled for an 18-16 home lead.

James Barran's try for Oldham 12 minutes from the end, when he chipped the ball ahead and won the touchdown race, was improved by Abram and at 22-18 Roughyeds looked home and dry.

Credit Lions with a rousing finish. Ridyard was taking an ever-increasing guiding hand from stand-off and he was largely instrumental in putting in right-winger Deane Meadows for the equaliser near the end.