It was a scorching day at Spotland - but when the heat was on, Hornets rose to the challenge.

Hornets' resounding victory over the Old Enemy was important on a few counts. It redressed at least some of the balance in the games between ourselves and Oldham; it continued the team's gathering momentum; but most importantly, it took us above Halifax and out of the relegation/playoff places and into a position where we can set our sights on Batley just three points above us.

And this was a typical blood and thunder derby - no quarter asked or given and bubbling over into the occasional scrappy fracas. With Bobbie Goulding feeling the effects of a pulled quad in the warm up, Liam McGovern started at scrum half and it was his chip that drew a foul from the Oldham defence after five minutes that gave Braddish the first points of the afternoon.

Oldham responded almost immediately; quick hands wide saw Johnson edge in at the corner.

Hornets replied in kind. The next foray into Oldham territory saw Tommy Hodgkinson crashing through tacklers, refusing to be grounded. As defenders swarmed around him he slipped a neat ball out of the back for Darren Robinson to reach in from close range.

Then the voices in refereee Taberner's head began. In the space of ten or so minutes, he gave nine consecutive penalties against Hornets. Quite bizarre. Most irritating was the sin-binning of dave Alstead on 21 minutes. Picking-up an Oldham drop out, the touch judge ruled that his foot was on the line and, hence, out of play. Having checked first where his foot was, Alstead was understandably peeved; the touch judge took offence at being told so and Alstead was dispatched.

Oldham ran the penalty and two tackles later had exploited the extra man for Dodd to score.

But 12-man Hornets took the game to Oldham. First a jinking break from Janan Billings took him through a busy defence, but his pin-point pass to Gorski who scooted in was deemed forward - despite tha fact that Billings had visibly turned to make the pass. Then Richard Varkulis fumbled the ball over the line. Oldham exhaled and on 34 minutes Brennan found himself on the end of some good passing to score.

Half time 8-18 and Hornets simmering at chances missed - and the surrealist antics of Mr Taberner.

Hornets began the second half in determined mood. 48 minutes: quick hands to the right saw Michael Platt squeeze dave Alstead in at the corner. Braddish added the extras from wide out.

Hornets added Sam Butterworth to the mix and took the kick-off possession deep into Oldham territory. Marsh was sin-binned for holding down Andy Gorski; Hornets took the ball close to the Oldham posts; Butterworth picked up from acting half and, while the defence shaped to handle the expected pass, a change of pace and angle saw Butterworth cruise through to score.

Hornets were level and Oldham looked decidedly frazzled.

But Oldham struck next; a napping Horets defence standing off Roden who capitalised to score. 20-24 and with the game coming nicely to the boil, Hornets hit the gas.

On the hour Richard Varkulis blasted through flapping defenders; his run took him 40 metres and, as the cover arrived, he picked his pass perfectly for Hornets top scorer Chris Campbell to dash in at the corner.

Just two minutes later, Hornets were back on the attack. With the Oldham defence in disarray, Michael Platt's looping run from the back of the ruck took him clear; outpacing the scrambling cover for a superb effort. Braddish added the extras; Oldham looking increasingly desperate.

Both teams sucked in for the last quarter. Oldham's pack throwing itself onto the resolute Hornets defence; Hornets looking increasingly likely to make the crucial break through Cunliffe and the non-stop Gorski.

With the clock ticking down, the game boiled over; Robinson and Roden exchanging blows in an all-in scramble. The resulting penalty was Oldham's last chance to salvage the game. Ex-Hornet Jon Roper scuffed the penalty and missed touch; Cambell gathered and Hornets played out the clock.

As the Oldham fans headed for the exits, the hooter brought the main stand to its feet and Hornets celebrated a superb, huge-hearted performance that had seen them claw back a ten point deficit and outscore Oldham 22-6 in the second half.

Bobbie Goulding was full of praise for his players - Particularly Tommy Hodgkinson and Lee hansen whose refusal to take a backward step pounded the Oldham pack into submission.

Once again, Bobbie Goulding's Rochdale Hornets have proven that playing with spirit, commitment and no little nous is everything you could ask for. The sheer elation on the faces of the players showed how much it means to win in the red, white and blue - and showed that, not only can this side stand the heat; it can serve up superb Rugby League too.