OLDHAM RLFC 100 WEST WALES RAIDERS 4

RUTHLESS and professional - that's how coach Stu Littler described Roughyeds' attitude to the job in hand at the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday.

The Raiders of Llanelli, based in the heart of Welsh Rugby Union territory, have been battling to lay down some rugby league roots down there for the last four years.

It doesn't appear to be getting any easier for them - and it certainly didn't get any easier for them in this one when loose-forward Callum Mulkeen was sent off for dissent in the first half.

Oldham were already romping home at 34-0 in a point-a-minute opening when Mulkeen was shown yellow, but it quickly turned to red and the Welshmen were in even more trouble.

Roughyeds went on to total 18 tries, including four apiece for full-back Owen Restall and young centre Kian Morgan and two each by 18-year-old on-loan stand-off Logan Astley and winger Liam Copland.

The other six were scored by Ben Holcroft, Will Cooke, Martyn Ridyard, Jordan Andrade, James Thornton and Billy Yarrow.

Ridyard converted 14 of the 18 tries to equal the legendary Bernard Ganley's all-time goals-in-a-match record, established in 1959.

Roughyeds were three points short of setting a club record highest score, given that the club put 102 points past the same opponents in 2018.

This big win lifted Roughyeds from seventh to fifth in the Betfred League One table, so Stu Littler's men have climbed into the play-off zone at the expense of Doncaster, who were leathered 54-22 at home by table-topping Swinton Lions.

Ridyard had an outstanding game in general play as well as with his goalkicking, but the club named Luke Nelmes, Morgan, Astley and Tom Forber as the four who were worthy of a fans' vote for man of the match.

In total there were four players on debut - Morgan, teenagers Astley and hooker Forber, both from Wigan Warriors on a short-term loan initially and a second hooker, Billy Yarrow, who is here on trial from Dewsbury Celtic.

Littler praised all four post-match and said the big win will give the side confidence going into the Good Friday derby with Rochdale Hornets at the Crown Oil Arena, kick-off 3pm.

Centre Cooke took a knock in the first half and, like scrum-half Dave Hewitt who missed the Welsh game with hip injury, it isn't yet known whether he will be fit for the big derby at Rochdale.

Littler said: "It will be my first Oldham v Rochdale derby, but I've been involved in a few others as both player and coach and I know form and league position count for nothing.

"Our big win against Raiders should give the boys a lot of confidence."

Oldham: Restall; Copland, Cooke, Morgan, Holcroft; Ridyard, Astley; Nelmes, Forber, Spencer, Thornton, Ferry, Whittel. Subs: Yarrow, Andrade, Newton, Cameron.