Rugby League: Broncos keep hopes alive

London Broncos 36 Oldham 28

London Broncos 36 Oldham 28

London climbed into second place in Super League last night with a scrappy win over Oldham at The Stoop to leave their visitors bottom of the table and needing a miracle to escape relegation with five games remaining.

A handling error by Greg Barwick allowed Oldham to level the scores with 20 minutes left before the London full-back made amends with a try he converted himself.

More drama was to follow, a 20-man brawl three minutes from the end resulting from John Clark's high tackle on David Krause. Clark's foul earned him a red card while Paul Davidson and London's Tony Mestrov were sent to the sin-bin.

It took the Broncos three minutes to take the lead through Krause. With Luke Goodwin in the sin-bin for interference at the play-the-ball, Terry Matterson took advantage of confusion in the Oldham defence to barge over. Shaun Edwards went over three minutes later, but London eased off.

First, Paul Atcheson scampered clear on the stroke of half-time and David Stephenson took advantage of some woeful defending to reduce the deficit.

After the break, London scored through Andrew Hamilton only for Joe Faimalo to respond in kind. Oldham levelled through Martin Crompton before Barwick and Robbie Beazley secured the victory.

London Broncos: Barwick; Roskell, Martin, Krause, Cotton; White, Edwards; Mestrov, Matterson, Seaby, Bawden, Salter, Gill. Substitutes: Howard, Hamilton, Beazley, Fatnowna.

Oldham: Atcheson; Leuila, Hill, Goddwin, Jones; Maloney, Crompton; Gildart, Clarke, Temu, Faimalo, Davidson, Russell. Substitutes: Topping, Stephenson, Cowans, Munro.

Referee: S Cummings (Widnes).