> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.oldham-owl.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Yeds undone by Vikings' second half blitz - URL: https://www.oldham-owl.co.uk/yeds-triumph-2/ - Published: 2026-09-06T17:08:18.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-07T08:09:41.000Z - Description: Yeds beaten despite first-half lead - Author: Ben Sheard - Tags: Sport | Oldham RLFC | 24 | \- | 30 | Widnes Vikings | | ------------------------------------ | -- | -- | -- | ----------------------- | | Betfred Championship Play-Off | | | | | | Farnworth \[T\] 21 | | | | Richardson \[T\] 14 | | Smith \[G\] 22 | | | | Richardson \[G\] 15 | | Geyer \[T\] 36 | | | | Lawton \[T\] 27 | | Smith \[G\] 36 | | | | Lawton \[T\] 41 | | Davies 38 \[T\] 38 | | | | Richardson \[G\] 42 | | Smith \[G\] 40 | | | | Langtree \[T\] 44 | | Chapelhow \[T\] 47 | | | | Richardson \[G\] 45 | | Smith \[G\] 48 | | | | Connell \[T\] 52 | | | | | | Richardson \[G\] 76 (p) | | | | | | | | Ref: James Vella - Attendance: 1,638 | | | | | It wasn’t to be for Roughyeds who, after leading at half time, went down to a Widnes side who were simply too good in the second period. But it’s not all bad news: thanks to the convoluted Championship play-off system, Yeds have a second bite of the cherry next week. They also have a somewhat nicer fixture than they would have earned with a win: they play at home to Midlands Hurricanes next weekend rather than away at London Broncos. The opening 14 minutes was cagey. A break from former St Helen’s prodigy Danny Richardson gave Allan Coleman’s travelling side the lead. Ryan Ince broke down the wing before feeding Richardson on his inside, who waltzed in for the game’s opening try. Richardson himself slotted the conversion. Yeds got a foothold in the game after 21 minutes. After a few sets camped on the Vikings line, a knocked down pass by Adam Lawton was picked up by Owen Farnworth, who used his strength to power over the line. Morgan Smith levelled it at six apiece. Ill-discipline was starting to creep in for the Yeds, and Widnes capitalised. A tackle off the ball allowed Richardson to march the travelling side downfield to camp on the Yeds line with a repeat set. Lawton rectified his mistake for the earlier Yeds try and gave his side the lead in 27th minute. Richardson’s kick sailed wide, leaving the score at 6-10. Cole Geyer, fresh from ventures in Super League with Huddersfield Giants, started a devastating spell for Yeds at the end of the first half. After a good couple of minutes probing on the Vikings line, Geyer broke through the otherwise solid Widnes defence after gathering a Matty Ashurst offload. Smith added the two points. Oldham’s offloading game was proving too good for the Vikings’ defence. Expansive rugby from Geyer, Josh Drinkwater, Josh Simm and Tom Nisbet gave the Yeds the field position to attack. The ball travelled across the pitch to Drinkwater, who fed Ben Davies to go over on the stroke of half time. Smith added the extras to make the score 18-10. Whatever was said in the Vikings’ dressing room at half time worked. They were electric at the start of the second half. Just 40 seconds after the restart, Lawton again hit a hard line and crashed over from close range. Richardson further reduced the deficit to put his side within two points of Yeds. Widnes were piggybacked up the field courtesy of Oldham’s ill-discipline, and a fifth-tackle shift play on Oldham’s line ended when Danny Langtree went through. Richardson added the extras to make it 18-22. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6d/6a/6d6a162d-10f3-4a84-b962-39d5e3f56145/content/images/2026/09/WhatsApp-Image-2026-09-06-at-15.07.51-2.jpeg) Roughyeds were on the back foot in the second half Yeds fought back with strong yardage carries. On 47 minutes, they were on the Widnes 10-metre line. Drinkwater’s kick was plucked out of the air by Ted Chapelhow, who managed to get the ball grounded to level the score. Smith’s conversion sailed through the uprights. The game was now topsy-turvy and somewhat chaotic, but Yeds led 24-22. The visitors retook the lead when Judah Sambou skated down the touchline before feeding the Nathan Connell. It was 24-28 with 51 minutes gone, after which the game returned to some sort of order. Roughyeds probed, but there was nothing doing. Frustration crept in. With just over four minutes left on the clock, referee James Vella penalised Yeds for being too talkative. Richardson opted for the penalty from 40 metres and made it a six-point game. There was no way back for Yeds, but they will relish the game against Midlands Hurricanes next weekend. Yeds beat Hurricanes twice in the league this season (but lost to them in the 1895 Cup). They will not be overawed. If you want Yeds match reports sent to your inbox for free ASAP after the final whistle, subscribe below 0:00 /1:32 1× The Owl's Ben Sheard caught up with Oldham's Jack Walker in the tunnel after the game **Oldham RLFC** Walker, Simm, Nisbet, Bibby, Forber, Smith, Drinkwater; Lannon, Wildie, Farnworth, Ashurst, Day, Milner **Interchanges** Geyer, Chapelhow, High, Davies **18th Man** Bentley **Widnes Vikings** Connell, Butt, Sambou, Owens, Ince, Richardson, Gilmore, Murray, Johnstone, Chapelhow, Wilde, Langtree, Gregson **Interchanges** Fozard, Bandit, McWhirter, Lawton **18th Man** Hall