QUICK FEET: Oldham’s Aidan Wardle surges forward in the under-12s Service Area match.

Junior rugby round up

DESPITE being behind three times, Oldham Service Area under-15s managed to overcome a physical St Helens side 24-20 away from home in a thrilling encounter.

The home side, unbeaten in all previous meetings, were committed and enthusiastic but were undone by Oldham’s smart football and fantastic support play, with two of the tries coming after breaks from halfway.

Saints took a 6-0 lead early on but Kristian Bell levelled things up with George Ford adding a conversion.

Again the home side went ahead at 10-6. But the classy Ford split the defence with a long-range break, with the supporting Danny Bridge touching down under the posts to enable Ford to add another conversion for a 12-10 score line.

The end-to-end action continued after the break as both sides came up with some scintillating rugby.

With the game finely poised, St Helens went into the lead by two with another unconverted try, before Bell’s break was finished by the supporting Jake O’Grady to give Oldham the lead, Ford adding the extras to make it 18-14.

And the visitors, now well on top, went further in front when Louis Jackson barged over, Ford kicking a fourth goal of the day.

Saints came back late on but it wasn’t enough to halt Oldham, for whom Ford, Bell, Bridge and Grant Hudson shone in an outstanding team performance.


     

THE under-13s were edged out 24-16 by their St Helens counterparts at home on a hot afternoon.

Ryan Maneely scored the first try of the game for Oldham and created the second, Danny Richardson touching down after a great kick, but St Helens led 12-8 at the break.

The second half was another tough one for Oldham, who claimed points through tries for Scott Booth and Chris Bolton.

Richardson, in the unfamiliar stand-off role, had a blinder and was named man-of-the-match, with Maneely and Bolton close behind.


     

OLDHAM’S under-12s and under-14s didn’t fare so well against strong St Helens sides, losing 42-0 and 22-0 respectively.

THIS Saturday, the under-14s (10.30am) and under-15s (11.45am) play at Counthill against Rochdale and spectators are welcome.

The under-12s and under-13s are away to Barrow.      

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