Try pain for Oldham

A DISPUTED try by Leigh left-winger Ben Sumner five minutes from the end took a tight game away from Oldham RL under-18s in their last run-out of the season at the Whitebank last night.

Roughyeds were defending a 16-14 lead when Sumner raced clear on what looked to be a forward pass. The nearside touchjudge stood his ground, but the referee over-ruled him and awarded the try, which John Darbyshire converted to give Centurions a hard-fought 20-16 victory.

Oldham, lively on attack and resolute in defence, dominated the first half to lead 16-4 at the midway point with tries by scrum-half Nathan Brown and one each for second-row pair Jack and Tom Breheny, two of which were converted by stand-off Tom Shaw.

“We thought Leigh’s winning try should have been ruled out,” said Oldham coach Phil Costin, “and to lose to a try like that was a bitter pill to swallow.

“But I’m proud of everything the Oldham boys have done over the course of the past few months. They have given everything they had to give and I couldn’t ask for any more.”

Team: Peet; Scholes, C Bevan, Ryan, Evans; Shaw, N Bevan; B Breheny, A Morris, J Morris, T Breheny, J Breheny, Lawton; Subs: Hudson, White, Ball, Greenwood.