Local rugby; Testing times in store for RU men

OLDHAM RUFC kick off their North Lancs/Cumbria division campaign tomorrow at home to club Wigton with player-coach Steve Molloy envisaging another challenging season.

“It is a horrible thing to say before the season has even started, but at the moment survival in this division is the main issue,” he said.

Molloy’s pragmatic thoughts are based on last season when the Manor Park side was threatened with relegation for much of the time only to pull clear of danger after winning the last four league games.

Since then, Oldham have lost two key pack men - Lancashire under-19 player Ryan Jackson, who has joined Sale Sharks, and long-serving Paddy Farnan (retired).

Former Oldham and Great Britain RL forward Molloy believes it is the lack of strength in the forwards which could have a major bearing on their fortunes.

Molloy, who says he will probably have to play, reluctantly, in the front row himself, explained: “We have lost two forwards who play in specialist positions and it has proved impossible to replace them. I am just hoping that we can uncover another Ryan Jackson from the young players coming through.

“We have a reasonably strong backs line but we need to win ball for them.”

Molloy says the young players have shown great promise, but feels it is a big ask for them to replace players like Jackson and Farnan.

And in view of the inexperience in the side - seven former colts featured in the recent Lancashire Trophy tie against Burnage - Molloy believes it is important the experienced players shoulder responsibility by ensuring they are available for the long away trips to Cumbria when the club is often hit by a lengthy list of cry-offs.

However, Oldham have suffered another pack blow for tomorrow with Adam Waterhouse ruled out with a leg injury.

They hope to have Phil Eddleston back after illness, while Joe Hesse is also available. Colts prop forward Ziggy Vatikionis joins the squad.

Hopes of getting off to a winning start have been lifted as Wigton, from Cumbria, have lost their Kiwi star Tane Manihara who has returned to League with NL1 play-off club Whitehaven.

Oldham have been drawn at home to either St Benedicts or Yarnbury in the second round of the National Cup Senior Vase on Saturday, November 18.

1st XV (Wigton, home, meet club 1.15pm): Kenney, Wilkinson, Ward, Mellor, Barber, Scrivens, Wardle, Burston, Molloy, Vatikionis, Fryer, Connolly, Brogan, Hesse, Cooper, Bergin.

‘A’ XV (Littleborough thirds, away, meet club 1pm): D Simpson, Jason Green, Newton, Denbigh, Jordan Green, Goodman, Langley, Bearpark, Collins, Dunnington-Wallace, Heptonstall, N Taylor, L Jones, Maslen, Froggatt, Howard, Jakeman, Collinge, Aylett, M Green, J Taylor.

Extra ‘A’ (Burnage thirds, home, meet 2pm): O Davies, Wild, Douthwaite, Lamp, Fitton, P Waterhouse, Graham, McNicholls, Roberts, Maxwell, Barrett, Kennedy, Mutch, Burgess, R Simpson, McEwan, Massey, McKenzie, J Watson, Herbertson, Holt, Renshaw.

Vets (Eccles thirds, home, meet club 1pm): Belcher, Billing, Brierley, Burke, Crimes, C Davies, Errock, Farnan, Hall, Hodkinson, Johns, Leach, Lockett, McDowell, Melia, P Peacock, Royston, Thackwell, Trickey, White.

Colts (Newcastle-under-Lyme, away Sunday, meet Failsworth School 11am): Ashcroft, Birch, Brennan, Denbigh, Clifford, Collinge, Davey, Froggatt, Goodman, Heginbotham, Holt, Massey, May, McEwan, J Peacock, Piekos, C Roscoe, L Roscoe, Ward, Wan, McKenna.

OLDHAM RUFC’S second team emerged 18-8 victors against their thirds in the opening match of the season in division four east of the North West Intermediate League.

It was a fiercely-contested match in which Phil Graham kicked the thirds ahead with a penalty before Michael Collinge equalised before the interval.

Colts player Jordan McEwan darted over in the corner to put the third team 8–3 ahead only for Andy Bearpark to touchdown for the seconds to make it 8–8.

It was only in the final 15 minutes that the seconds sealed victory with tries from Josh Denbigh and Collinge.

The Vets began their league campaign in division five east with a 36-26 home defeat by Colne and Nelson.

Early on Oldham were caught on the hop by Colne’s speedy young players who established a 26-5 half-time lead.

The Manor Park players hit back in the second half to level the scores with 10 minutes to go. But a late drop goal and converted try gave the visitors victory.

Peter Mulder’s three tries for Oldham proved in vain, while Sean Thackwell also touched down. Don Errock kicked two conversions and Nick McDowell one.

The Colts started their campaign with a 11-0 home defeat by Manchester in which they were undone by poor handling and ill discipline.