Oldham’s spirit shines through

Photo: Pictures by CHRIS SUNDERLAND

CATCH THAT . . . Will Mellor tries to get Oldham moving against Didsbury.

RUGBY UNION:

Oldham 17, Didsbury Toc H 17

A BRAVE comeback from Oldham helped rescue a 17-17 draw against Didsbury Toc H in North Lancashire Division One, on a day when 42-year-old Matt Jakeman made his first-team debut.

Jakeman replaced the suspended Jordan McEwan and, during his half-hour on the pitch, he acquitted himself well at prop and in the second row.

It was against the run of play that the hosts opened the scoring as a good passing move found Joe Hesse with half a yard of space. The defence closed him down quickly, but his strength carried him to the line with three would-be tacklers hanging on. Two minutes later, following a scrum, the Toc H winger found some space out wide and raced in for a converted try.

Oldham looked to have weathered the storm, but a clearing kick from their own line was charged down and, among the confusion, a Didsbury player dropped on the ball over the line. The converted put Toc H 14-5 at the interval.

In the second half Oldham looked for a way back but all too often gave away penalties. One was given away on the Oldham 10-yard line, converted to leave the hosts 17-5 down.

After 70 minutes Oldham had a scrum in the Toc H 22. After a few drives at the line the ball found its way to Martin Hamer who picked a gap and raced over for a try. Jordan Green added the conversion and it was game on.

Time was just about up, but a series of penalties brought Oldham within range of the Didsbury line.

Will Mellor took a quick tap penalty and set up a rolling maul, and Hesse gathered the ball and

powered his way to the line.