IF there’s one lesson Hornets can take from their game against Oldham Roughyeds at Spotland on Good Friday, and indeed, from their whole Northern Rail Cup campaign, it is to focus for the full 80 minutes.

Too often Bobbie Goulding’s men have blown hot and cold, and in the first half against their arch-rivals they were as chilly as the biting wind which blew across the stadium. They trailed 30-4 at half time, and conceded a try immediately after the break before bursting into life to win the second half 28-16.

It was too little too late for the home team but it gave their fans some grounds for optimism for the coming season.

Hornets were not helped by the officials who, according to Goulding, were not on the same wavelength, and with a penalty count of 9-1 against in the first half his comment may have had some justification.

The loss of scrum-half Simon Svabic, midway through the first half, with what appeared a serious shoulder injury, was also a blow to the hosts.

But, in the overall scheme of things, Hornets weren’t at the races for the first 45 minutes. Shoddy tackling, sloppy handling, a completion rate of 47 per cent, plus a series of injudicious offloads, gave Oldham the lions’ share of possession, and they are too good a team not to take advantage.

When the home side found their form, inspired by captain Jimmy Elston, they looked the part. Solid tackling, crisp handling and superb support play saw them score four tries to the visitors one during the last 25 minutes, but all to no avail.

Hornets started slowly, and on the back of an early penalty Phil Joseph nipped in from close range for the simplest of tries. Mick Nanyn converted.

Hornets, despite having difficulty retaining possession, struck back in the 13th minute, Elston, Martin Ainscough and Chris Spurr combining to send Chris Campbell over in the corner.

Eight minutes later Richard Mervill appeared to be tackled, but as Hornets’ players waited for the play the ball he passed off the floor to Neil Roden who strolled in

unopposed for a try. It was a curious decision from the referee, but Oldham were not going to turn down the gift, and Nanyn made it a six-pointer.

Nanyn slotted over a penalty, and from the restart he shrugged off several weak tackles to send an alert Marcus St Hilaire racing for the line. Nanyn tagged on the two.

Oldham increased their lead, courtesy of a third penalty, a quick thinking James Coyle setting up Joseph for his second. Nanyn was again on target.

When frustrated Hornets’ players conceded two more penalties in quick succession, Coyle’s neat cross kick was followed up by Craig Littler who dived in to score.

Two minutes after the break it was all too easy for Oldham when, from a scrum on Hornets’ 22, they whipped the ball to the left for St Hilaire to touch down.

Hornets at last found their feet, and Sammy Butterworth’s long pass found Elston who handed on to Chris Spurr for him to score. It should have been the lift the home side needed, but four minutes later Alex Wilkinson was the beneficiary of shocking tackling as he powered in to score. Nanyn added the extras.

On the hour Elston took matters into his own hands with an excellent run from acting half. Wayne Corcoran accepted his pass to force his way over the line. Carl Sneyd converted.

Elston was again to the fore when another mazy run and well-timed pass created a try for Ian Sinfield. Sneyd added the two.

It was again the Hornets’ captain leading from the front as he exchanged passes with Mark Brocklehurst and galloped in for a try. Sneyd slotted over the kick.

Once again though the home team switched off, and the impressive Coyle cantered through a huge hole in the home defence to score. Nanyn converted.

With a minute to go it was a case of what might have been for Hornets as Butterworth stepped his way through the Oldham defence and found Sinfield on his shoulder to score. Sneyd performed the last rites as he knocked over the conversion.

Match stats

Hornets: Sneyd, Brown, Brocklehurst, Spurr, Campbell, Ainscough, Svabic, Best, Elston, Cookson, Farrimond, Sinfield, Corcoran. Subs (all used): Butterworth, Stout, Robinson, Callan. Tries: Campbell (13), Spurr (49), Corcoran (60), Sinfield (64, 79), Elston (71). Goals: Sneyd 4.

Oldham: St Hilaire, Langley, Littler, Nanyn, O’Connor, Roden, Coyle, Boults, Joseph, Mervill, Goulden, Halliwell, Roberts. Subs (all used): Wilkinson, Tamghart, Grundy, Hoyle. Tries: Joseph (6, 32), Roden (19), St Hilaire (27, 42), Littler (38), Wilkinson (52), Coyle 74. Goals: Nanyn 6. Penalties: Nanyn.

Referee: C Halloran (Batley)

Penalties: 6-9

Half-time 4-30

Attendance: 1,003.