KEIGHLEY COUGARS 26 OLDHAM RLFC 34

WINGER Tommy Brierley, who fluffed a certain try in the shock Cup defeat by Lock Lane, was the two-score, man-of-the-match hero in this pre-season warm-up game, writes Roger Halstead.

Roughyeds needed to bounce back in this their first run-out since that awful Challenge Cup night at the Vestacare Stadium - and they did it by scoring six tries to five against a Yorkshire side that's being freely tipped to win promotion from Betfred League One.

Moreover, they will be at the Vestacare Stadium for the League opener on Sunday, March 27, so there was a lot riding on this so-called friendly in terms of self-belief and psychological points-scoring. In the opening stages, Cougars were the better of two nervous-looking sides, but full credit to Roughyeds, who eventually got their act together to come out on top against a side the bookies regard as second favourites for promotion at 7-2.

They led 12-0 early on, 16-12 at half-time and 20-18 early in the second half, but Brierley's terrific finishing to squeeze in at the corner for his second try in the 60th minute gave Roughyeds a lead they never surrendered again.

Veteran stand-off Martyn Ridyard's wide, cut-out ball gave Brierley the scoring opportunity and the winger scored spectacularly in the corner. Rock on, Tommy !

Other Oldham tries were scored by livewire hooker Brad Jinks, full-back Owen Restall, replacement wing Liam Copland (another flying touchdown at the corner flag) and Ridyard, who also landed five goals to finish with 14 points.

Said head coach Stuart Littler: "There was a lot of togetherness in our performance and glimpses of what we are about.

"It was only a friendly though and we are under no illusions about how tough the league will be."

Showing up well in a hard-working pack were Emmerson Whittel, Jinks, Tom Spencer and Jack Coventry, the last two off the bench.

Starting line-up (nine replacements): Restall; Brierley, Cooke, Hartley, Holcroft; Ridyard, Hewitt; Nelmes, Jinks, Newton, Cameron, Ferry, Whittel.