Oldham's quality subdues fighting Bears.

Oldham 58 Coventry Bears 6, Sunday, Vestacare Stadium, Oldham.

photo by Oldham.

The Bears travelled up to one of the traditional big names of Rugby League on Sunday but we're beaten by a side determined to keep in the promotion hunt and regain their place in the Championship.

The hosts took an early lead as Jack Holmes crossed over the line for a try.

It was eleven minutes into the game before the next score, and this time it was Craig Briscoe which added to the lead in what was a close game with the Bears looking capable of causing damage.

And then in twenty one minutes, the Bears had the reward they deserved as Ben Stead got the ball out to Dante Morley-Samuels out on the wing to open the Bears account.

Stead took the conversion, and brought the score to 10-6.

As end to end play ensued, Oldham's Jack Holmes broke the deadlock to restore the margin in favour of the home side.

Still, the Bears were in with a chance, but then Matt Wilkinson delivered two killer punches as he scored two tries in quick succession just before the break.

Oldham's Paul Cook was having a good kicking game and his two conversions put the score at 28- 6, which both flattered the hosts and effectively put the game out of the Bears reach.

Any possibility of a Bears revival was extinguished as Luke Hooley and Ben West scored tries early in the second half.

As expected, the Bears continued to put up a fight and for periods were still the equal of their opponents, but then tiredness crept in and mistakes started to happen.

Oldham, conscious of the need for a good points difference in the tight run up to the final play off places were ruthless and punished the Bears with two more tries, bringing their total to ten to the Bears one.

The Bears had nothing left to offer but still left to a good round of applause from the sporting Oldham crowd.

The Bears return to the Butts Park Arena this Sunday to take on old rivals North Wales Crusaders.