Driven Oldham won't be denied

JINKING RUN . . . Josh Watson takes on the Trafford MV line

A PERFECT pitch defied the awful weather conditions as Oldham Rugby Union Club firsts overcame a second-half storm from hosts Trafford MV firsts to win 21-14.

Despite a tight opening to the North Lancashire and Cumbria League contest, the visitors possessed some extra invention and crossed first after 10 minutes, exploiting space down the left.

The ball went through a number of hands before Callum Megram drew the last defender and left sufficient room for winger and man-of-the-match Phil Graham to squeeze along the touchline and score a well-worked try by the posts. Megram added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Oldham then lost Rob Froggatt to the sin bin for a high shot, but there were no scores in that period - even though Trafford's kick and chase was more effective than the visitors' and gained them ground in a game where it was difficult to do.

The visitors extended their lead on the half-hour, when a kick by Alex Jobson came to a halt just before the Trafford line. Demonstrating how important the chase is, he forced the last defender to carry over to concede a five-metre scrum. Froggatt subsequently touched down, Megram converting again to make the score 14-0.

Almost straight from the kick-off, veteran captain Gareth Barber rolled back the years to score a vintage solo try.

He got the ball on his own 10-metre line and after a dummy saw him in acres of space, off he scampered. Despite support he chose to throw dummies left and right which out-foxed everyone.

Barber dived over the line just as the last defender embraced him. Megram converted from the touchline and the half-time score was 21-0.