Oldham RUFC 5, Wigton 15

OLDHAM RUFC made a losing start to their league campaign in North Lancs/Cumbria division after being punished for some glaring weaknesses in the forwards.

And to pile on the misery for the Manor Park side, scrum-half Phil Eddleston broke his ankle in two places.

Player-coach Steve Molloy's pre-season concern about the lack of forward firepower proved justified as the failure to win sufficient ball was their undoing.

Wigton must have enjoyed an 80-per-cent success rate from scrums, lineouts and set plays as the Oldham backs were starved of possession.
Yet when the backs had the ball they were dangerous and with a shade more of it then Oldham could well have triumphed.
Oldham, without the unwell half-back Peter Scrivens, fell behind to a 25th minute penalty from Alan Logue, but hit back with a try from winger Dave Kenney who picked up a loose ball and ran three quarters the length of the pitch to score.
Oldham were well pleased to be 5-3 ahead despite their failings in the forwards.
Wigton regained the lead early in the second half when Roy Moffatt dribbled his way in after winning the race to a grubber kick as the visitors nudged 8-5 in front.
And that is how it remained until the sixth minute of stoppage time when Wigton scrum-half Phil Reed wriggled over, Logue converting.