PROMOTION-chasing Oldham were simply too good for Coventry Bears as they ran out emphatic 60-0 victors at the Butts Park Arena.
This was the first ever visit to the Butts Park Arena for Oldham and after six consecutive wins they were determined to keep up that record and place pressure on the top two in League One.
They did exactly that with an 11-try blitz and a comprehensive all-round display.
After some good passing moves, a space was created for Oldham’s Ben Davies to cross from a few yards out and Paul Crook’s conversion followed.
After 11 minutes a flowing move culminated with Benjamin West receiving the ball on the right wing and running into the space created for his first try.
This time Crook hit the upright.
Some flowing play followed from the visitors but a forward pass prevented a certain try and the Bears were off the hook.
Coventry defended valiantly but then allowed Mathew Wilkinson to add an easy try from close quarters and the simplest of conversions was set up for Crooks.
Next over for Oldham was Craig Briscoe on 27 minutes and the conversion put the score at 22-0.
The visitors were now firmly in the ascendancy and Dany Langtree sliced through Coventry’s defence despite the best efforts of the two Bears hanging on to him as he powered over.
Danyal Rasool was the next to score and make it 32-0 at half-time.
The Bears came out with more spirit following the interval and were within five yards of the line before their last pass was intercepted and they found themselves scrambling back to defend desperately once more.
A tricky kick put Crook over as Oldham returned to try-scoring ways with the half just six minutes old to add to his increasing points tally.
James Guertjens did his best to inspire the Bears with some hard driving runs but the home side’s attacks invariably broke down and they found themselves on the back foot.
After a rather sloppy spell of play under the bright sun, Langtree added his second of the afternoon after a furious spell of pressure and once again Crook made no mistake with the extras.
A dazzling run and score by full-back Kyran Johnson added to the Bears’ misery as he dived flamboyantly over the line and the conversion put the score on the half century mark.
The ninth name on the scoresheet was David Hewitt after a piercing run.
Briscoe added his second with five minutes remaining as Oldham recorded their seventh victory in a row.
Bears travel to Hunslet on Sunday.
