Match Report | Sheffield Eagles 30-36 Oldham

21/03/2026

Written by Spencer Arnold

Our unbeaten start in the Betfred Championship came to an end this afternoon after a toughly fought 30-36 defeat at home to Oldham RLFC.

Will Oakes was handed his first start of the season at centre by Head Coach Craig Lingard, who came in to replace Kieran Gill. The other change for the Eagles was on the bench as Lennie Ellis was named in the squad for the first time, in the absence of Lewis Peachey.  

The hosts began the fixture strongly and after a late hit on Kai Morgan, Jordan Lilley edged us ahead early on with a penalty.  

Errors and near misses came for both sides until a Matty Marsh injury knocked the Eagles’ momentum and allowed Josh Drinkwater to push the visitors ahead.

But the Eagles bounced back. After forcing an Oldham error and turnover of the ball within the visitors’ twenty metres, Harry Bowes was allowed to blitz his way through from close-range to put his side ahead.

Then just moments later, George Griffin widened the advantage even further, following a powerful drive towards the tryline.

The Eagles scored once again with Oakes marching his way through the Oldham defence and providing an offload to Billy Walkley to score. 

To close out the first half, a kick on the last tackle found its way to ex-Eagles player Bayley Liu, who scored in the corner for Oldham, to create a 20-10 scoreline at the break, in favour of the Eagles.

The second half was opened by Oldham this time as a kick to the right corner was pounced on by Brad Day.

Following Martyn Reilly being sin-binned, Oldham takes advantage of the newly-formed gap in the Eagles' defence and achieves three tries in rapid succession, with Matty Ashurst, Morgan Smith and Cole Geyer all getting themselves on the scoresheet to push the visitors 30-20 ahead.

A diving try from Billy Walkley brought hope back to the Eagles, and then a battering try from George Griffin brought both sides level.

But it was Oldham who came away with the victory when Ryan Lannon sidestepped his way to the tryline in the closing stages.  

Sheffield Eagles' next fixture is an away clash against Dewsbury Rams next Sunday in Round 8 of the Betfred Championship (3 pm KO).

Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Brown, Oakes, Hodson, Walkley, Morgan, Lilley, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Farrell, Griffin

Interchanges (all used): Johnson, Bussey, Broadbent, Ellis

18th Man: Butterworth

Tries: Bowes (26’), Griffin (30’, 71’), Walkley (34’, 65’)

Goals: Lilley (5/6)

Oldham RLFC: Walker, Nisbet, Davies, Liu, Bibby, Smith, Drinkwater, McKinney, Wildie, Farnworth, Ashurst, Day, Chapelhow

Interchanges (all used): Geyer, Purcell, Lannon, Milner

18th Man: O’Keefe

Tries: Drinkwater (11’), Liu (39’), Day (44’), Ashurst (55’), Smith (58’), Geyer (63’), Lannon (75’)

Goals: Drinkwater (4/7)

Referee: T. Jones