RU men pay the penalty

OLDHAM RUFC 27, UPPER EDEN 32

TWO late penalties condemned Oldham RUFC to defeat at home to Upper Eden in their bottom-of-the-table clash in North Lancs/Cumbria division.

Oldham were 27-26 ahead with one minute of regulation time remaining as they looked set for their first win of the season.

But two last-gasp kicks from Nick Allinson saw Oldham suffer a third straight loss which leaves them anchored at the foot of the table.

Again Oldham paid the penalty for their failings in the forwards as they were starved of possession. And it was great credit to them that they managed to score five tries to Upper Eden’s fours given they saw so little of the ball.

But unless the pack, which was without senior players Chris Heptonstall and Rob Burston who were both unavailable, is strengthened it looks as though a relegation scrap will be inevitable.

Oldham’s front row comprised three teenagers - Paul Wardle, Nathan Taylor and Ziggy Vatikions - while another youngster, Jack Taylor, was in the back row.

While they tackled their hearts out and displayed enormous promise for the future, it is a massive step up from colts to first-team rugby and they were outmuscled in the second period when Oldham surrendered a 22-12 lead in a dramatic last-quarter collapse.

The afternoon began brightly for Oldham with two tries from James Wilkinson, one converted by Gareth Barber, and a touchdown from Dave Kenney helping them establish a lead.

Vatikions drove over for Oldham’s fourth try of the game early in the second half and Will Mellor added the fifth.

It looked as though that would be the decisive score until Allinson’s late intervention as Upper Eden snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.