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Depleted Cornwall were comprehensively defeated by Betfred League 1 champions Oldham at Boundary Park in the penultimate round of league games in 2024.

The Choughs, missing a whole host of regulars through injury and suspension, shipped 14 tries against a clinical Roughyeds outfit, who clinched a Championship return in round 21, with an on-the-road win over nearest challengers Keighley.

Cornwall handed debuts to recent new signings from Bradford Bulls Waldimar Matahwa and Harry Gray, whilst George Mitchell returned to the interchange bench for the first time in six weeks.

Captain David Weetman joined Mitchell amongst the replacements as he was suffering from illness.

Elsewhere, Nathan Cullen, Harry Boots and Bailey Black were all ruled out through injury while Matt Ross and Luke Collins were suspended.

Every one of those missing players were involved when Cornwall last travelled to Lancashire  in April with Mike Abbott’s side putting up a brave showing to go down 46-10, with the hosts scoring four tries in the final 12 minutes, to give the scoreline a flattering look from the Roughyeds’ perspective.

Abbott’s patched up team shipped 36 points in the opening stanza with Ben O’Keefe grabbing a brace along with scores from Adam Sidlow, captain Jordan Turner, Logan Astley and Craig Kopczak right on the siren.

With Jamie Ellis knocking over six goals, the game was as good as up for Cornwall going into the turnaround.

And the one-way traffic continued into the second half with Oldham scoring a further eight tries and but for Ellis radar from the tee going awry, it could have been even worse for Cornwall.

O’Keefe added two more to finish with a four timer while centre Jumah Sambou bagged two. Cian Tyrer scored his customary tries against the Choughs with Turner matching the feat of Sambou. Interchange Josh Johnson also crossed the whitewash for Sean Long’s charges.

The closest Cornwall came to registering was from two intercepts in which Coby Nichol broke clear. However, on both occasions, he was pulled down just short of the Oldham line by brilliant cover defence.

Credit must go to Cornwall, who never once raised the white flag and in the final 15 minutes of the game, they conceded just 10 points.

Cornwall: Brown, Matahwa, Nichol, Ashton, Aaronson, Punchard, Rusling, Dimech, Conroy, Gill, Bateman, Simpson, Lloyd. Interchange: (all used) Mitchell, Weetman, Bannister Gray.

Oldham: Laulu-Togaga’e, Sambou, O’Keefe, Turner, Tyrer, Astley, Ellis, Farworth, Aldridge, T Chapelhow, Hirst, Taylor, Sidlow. Interchange: (all used) Wildie, Moran, Kopczak, Johnson.

Tries: O’Keefe (6,27,50,57), Sidlow (15), Astley (19), Turner (32,66), Kopzcak (39), Tyrer (44,60), Johnson (54), Sambou (63,77)

Goals: Ellis 8/14

Referee: Aaryn Belafonte

Attendance: 1,421