The positive I took from today was that I did not go to the game.

Roughyeds 20-30 London Broncos: Jarrod Sammut breaks Oldham hearts again


Jarrod Sammut's brilliance denies Oldham big win against London Broncos
By Roger Halstead The Oldham Times

Broncos' Jarrod Sammut turned the game once introduced by the visitors

Broncos' Jarrod Sammut turned the game once introduced by the visitors
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JARROD Sammut has broken many an Oldham heart over many a year, but never has it hurt so much as it did at Bower Fold yesterday when rugby league's maverick magician did it again in the last few minutes of a thriller.

Oldham, producing a terrific display that was full of pride and passion, went in front midway through the first half and led our capital city's full-timers until they dropped behind for the first time with only five minutes left on the clock.

And it was veteran Sammut, who has destroyed Oldham so often in the past, who did the damage after coming off the bench with the Londoners in big trouble and trailing 14-6 early in the second half.

Oldham led 20-12 with 10 minutes remaining when London boss Tom Tsang's masterstroke in keeping Sammut back until the second half reaped rich rewards.

The 34-year-old stand-off is well known to Oldham fans, having scored at least one try – nine in total – in his previous six games against the Roughyeds, three for London, three for Workington Town.

It was a major surprise when the Broncos announced their line-up with centre Chris Hankinson at half-back and with Sammut on the bench.

He was clearly there in reserve to be brought on if needed, and he was needed all right, as battling Oldham, second bottom and fighting for Championship survival under new boss Brian McDermott, looked like pulling off a shock win.

Tyler Dupree, again immense in the battle of the big boys up front, gave the home heroes an eight-point lead with his try early in the second half and at that point McDermott's men looked good enough to go on and win.
Tyler Dupree

Tyler Dupree

They twice went close to increasing their lead, first when Martyn Reilly was held up over the try line and then when lively hooker Jamie Abram knocked-on in the act of touching down.

A try then and Roughyeds would have been firm favourites to get the win they richly deserved, but it wasn't to be and to make matters worse, the visitors went straight down to the other end where winger Abbas Miski scored in the corner and Hankinson goaled off the touchline to cut the home lead to 14-12.

Full of fire and vigour, Roughyeds again put the Londoners under pressure when prop Reilly pulled out of a tackle and crashed over for a try which Dan Abram goaled.

At 20-12 in front with quarter of an hour to go, Oldham fans dared to dream that their side's long losing run might be coming to an end, but as the game edged into its final 10 minutes Sammut took it upon himself to turn that dream into a nightmare.

It was his brilliant 40-20 touch-finder that led directly to Miski's second try.

Then, with only five minutes left, the super sub made a brilliant individual break through a tiring defence and sailed around home full-back Dan Abram to shatter Oldham dreams and to put his side on level terms for the first time since midway through the first half.

Not only did it maintain his 100 per cent try-scoring record against Roughyeds, but it gave Hankinson the easiest of conversions which edged Broncos into a 22-20 lead.

Understandably, Roughyeds were sickened – and so were their fans.

Clearly buoyed, Broncos then scored again when hooker Jacob Jones squeezed over from dummy half. Hankinson goaled and then added a penalty goal after the final siren had sounded to give Broncos both points and a 30-20 win which didn't do any justice at all to the home side's battling performance.

London had won the toss and chosen to give Oldham first use of the slope.

It was nip and tuck, Oldham giving at least as good as they got, until they went in front in the 20th minute with a great try by Ryan Ince after slick play by the backs out on the right featuring James Barran and winger Tommy Brierley.

It was Barran's clever use of the ball that gave winger Brierley room to move and he did exceptionally well to hold off Miski before putting the ball back inside to Ince, who had a clear run to the line.

Dan Abram goaled and then added a penalty three minutes later after Barran was felled by a late tackle after he had put in a kick.

At 8-0 to the good, Roughyeds went through a dodgy spell and London's persistent pressure paid off when second-row Josh Walters crashed over for a try which Hankinson improved.

It remained 8-6 at half-time and the scene was set for a nail-biting second half in which Roughyeds and Broncos scored in turn until Sammut edged his side home with sheer individual brilliance in the last few minutes.

McDermott said: "We've obviously made a lot of progress in the last few weeks.

"I don't know how we would have fared against Broncos a month ago, but I thought this was a really good performance.

"I like to think some of the things I'm trying to put into place are starting to make a difference."

They certainly are; the only difference between a team of full-time professionals who are pushing for the play-offs and one that's battling to avoid relegation was Sammut's exciting ability to become a late match-winner in his own right.

Oldham: D Abram; Brierley, Ince, Roberts, Holcroft; Charnock, Hewitt; Reilly, Barran, Kirk, Bridge, Langtree, Bent. Subs: J Abram, Nelmes, Dupree, Pick.

Broncos: Leyland; Egodo, Hodson, Ogden, Miski; Hankinson, Meadows; Richards, Jones, Moran, Curran, Lovell, Walters. Subs: Horsman, Hindmarsh, Williams, Sammut.

Would you have preferred it if we'd lost?

Wooooooosh.

Couldn’t bring himself to give the truthful answer, very sad.

so to be clear.....a long time fan of the club doesn't take a positive from a professional full time side managing to win a game in the last 5 minutes against part time opposition? In a season where we've shed not only 70%+ of our fans as well as the only shining light we had in our coach? Where the club have now had to resort to flogging tickets at huge discounts to save themselves from another embarrassing crowd.
The Reality is that if we'd lost to Oldham, we'd still probably have made the play offs, only to travel up to the shay to get spanked by another part time outfit...so the truthful answer is, very few people care either way any more.....very few.

You're not the hard core loyal fans....you're lemmings and the cliff edge awaits

and to be crystal clear .........Just because my message wasn't popular some 19 years ago, doesn't mean it wasn't 100% spot on...in terms of where the London Broncos currently sit as well as where the game in the UK finds itself..... too many blinkered fools who tut loudly and consider themselves knowledgeable hanging around the sport whilst other "lesser" sports have stolen a march.
But you slag off yet another London Broncos supporter who, by the sounds of it, has had enough!
You stupid few who remain massage the ego of an aging oligarch who refuses to admit he f^^^^^ed up the club.....

I agree with the comment about "this is how far we have fallen"

I cannot see any reason we can be pleased about the win. Yes, a wins a win, yes the players showed a bit of character and fight but this is just papering over cracks.
In a dream world, the club have just tried to get through this season, affected by Covid. Young squad, players getting game time and sorting g a new ground. Next season we see a new coach, some depth and experience come into the side and dare I say a bit of marketing. We have a side that can genuinely challenge and maybe 1400/1500 fans.
My expectation is no new coach, a young part time squad fighting to keep their head above the relegation places, playing in front of 200 fans.

I honestly fear for this weekend. I also, as much as it guts me to say it, do not miss going.

OM I think your first post is spot on save:
A) I’d add the words “try to” in from of “save themselves from another....” as it’s pretty clear the crowd will be poor. I can confirm my son won’t be going so that’s the children attendance down by 25%.
B) on a LB only fan forum you last para is unnecessary. The point has been made before.
Your 2nd post doesn’t add anything substantive just raises the heat. We’re all frustrated but I suspect it’s this type of post that other long term fans take issue with. I’d stick to the more constructive, less barbed, posts but then again if you can’t have a good old argument on an Internet forum when can you?

Did anyone on this forum go to the game? Was it really as mediocre as it sounds? Are any of the younger players stepping up? I had a think about going but then I thought I’d save myself for the quality fare I know we will produce against TO.

We having lots of nice French food then?

Pie and a pint obviously. And you?

I say obviously. It’s possible that knowing the crowd size, they may not bother with food or opening the bar.

How disappointing. You said you were looking forward to the quality fare, I assumed you'd heard we were putting on a good spread for the Frenchies.

I was thinking more of the on field fare in my original post but I can see how the food is a more interesting discussion point.