Barber pulls the strings for firsts

Martin Hamer burests clear of the Thornham defence

RUGBY UNION

Thornton Cleveleys 1STS 7 Oldham RUFC 1STS 34

OLDHAM produced arguably their best performance of the season to register another victory in North Lancashire Division One.

On their last visit to Cleveleys, Oldham suffered a heavy defeat, but this time they were able to muster a strong 18 despite the absence of some players through injury.

A bench containing Joe Hesse, Lewis Simister and Ryan North meant that an excellent 15 were on the pitch.

Thornton, with the wind behind them, enjoyed a fair amount of possession early in the game, but Oldham managed to repel the assault and they opened the scoring with their first visit into the opposition 22 when Callum Megram slotted home a penalty given for offside.

Oldham had been taught a scrummaging lesson earlier in the season by Thornton, but they had clearly learned from it with 19-year-old Tom Hannon at loose head putting in an exceptional performance against an experienced and talented opposite number.

And those who featured in the front row – Jordan McEwan, Jamie Edwards, Simister and Brian Massey – scrummaged with skill and maturity.

The weather hampered the line-out but some powerful drives and breaks by Stuart Brennan, Hesse, Martin Hamer, John Souter and Nick Hackman meant Oldham began to exert some dominance.

And the visitors exploded into action on the half-hour when a slick move ended in Gareth Barber crossing under the posts and Megram converting to make it 10-0.

The latter slotted another penalty just before half-time and Oldham extended their lead soon after the break when Will Mellor scored by the posts following a trademark break by North, who had only just gone on to the pitch. Megram converted again.

The Mellor-Megram combination made it 27-0 before Simister went over for a bonus-point try and the reliable Megram kicked between the posts again.

Thornton never let their heads drop and scored a well-worked try off the back of a scrum. It was converted to give a final scoreline of 34-7.

Barber, who managed the game and marshalled the defence with his usual authority, was Oldham’s man-of-the-match.