Slick Oldham too strong for poor Old Boys

Date published: 21 April 2015


RUGBY UNION: CHAMPIONS Oldham signed off by trouncing St Edward’s Old Boys 90-10 — though the visitors only turned up with 10 men at a sunny Manor Park.

Several home players were watching from the sidelines, so Stuart Brennan, Rhys Jones, Cameron Wood and Phil Walmsley stepped in to boost the Liverpool outfit’s numbers.

Oldham’s first try in the North Lancashire Division One clash came from Callum Megram — he broke up the right wing — only for Brennan to intercept a stray pass and race in from 35 metres to level things up.

The hosts then took control. Ryan Pickles sprinted 60 metres before touching down — Megram added the goal — and from the kick-off Will Mellor launched an attack from deep inside his own half and sent away Ryan North.

Megram added the conversion to extend the lead, then jinked his way through the defence to score. He also kicked the extras.

St Edward’s hit back with their second try three minutes before the break. But right on half-time, after a series of drives, Joe Hesse dived over and with Megram kicking the goal, Oldham had the points in the bag.

The second half was a try-fest. Oldham went in nine times, with Megram landing five conversions and Gareth Barber one. Nick Hackman recorded his first try of the campaign, after unselfish work from Phil Conroy, while Hackworth then sent in North with a wonderful flicked pass from off the floor.

North went over again to complete his hat-trick, Phil Graham bagged a brace — the second from a Barber pass — while Max Horsfall, John Souter, Megram and Pickles also dived in.

Megram took the man-of-the-match award — his first of the season coming in the last game.

Rechnically it all went for nothing, because St Edwards’ use of unregistered players left the final score officially 0-0. But Oldham were awarded four points for the win — their 18th from 20 league games — and a bonus point.

And so ends a campaign which began with high hopes and ultimately did not disappoint, after negotiating a tricky spell after the festive period. Player-coach Barber and director of coaching Iain MacCorquodale did a fantastic job, moulding a group of individuals into a coherent group capable of much more. Here’s to 2015-2016.