RUFC victory eases worries

CAPTAIN Gareth Barber led by example as Oldham RUFC eased their relegation worries with a much-needed 29–10 victory at Fleetwood in North Lancs/Cumbria division.

Barber contributed 19 of the Manor Park side’s points, scoring two tries and kicking three conversions and one penalty as the Manor Park side secured only their second league success from seven matches.

But such is the tight nature of the league standings that Oldham jumped from bottom of the table to fourth last place and out of the drop zone.

While Barber quite rightly gained many of the plaudits, it was the reinforced pack which also deserved recognition.

The returns of Rob Fryer and Steve Molloy made a world of difference to the forwards who won the ball the backs needed to score the points.

It was a game in which the wind also had a telling factor as Oldham established a 17-5 half-time lead as Fleetwood failed to take advantage of the elements.

But in the second half Oldham, with the wind at their backs, pinned Fleetwood back in their own half through a series of well-placed kicks from Barber.

After falling behind to a Mark Larkin try, Oldham got on to the scoresheet through a Barber penalty.

This was quickly followed by Barber’s first try which he goaled under the sticks.

Barber scored his second try on the stroke of half time and added the two extra points as Oldham finished 17-5 ahead.

Oldham forged further ahead after 52 minutes after another well-constructed try when the ball went through many pairs of hands before back-row forward Joe Hesse finished off the move, with Barber kicking the conversion.

Fleetwood reduced the deficit to 24-10 with a try from winger Chris Phillips, but Oldham had the last word as replacement Luke Roscoe, one of their talented colts players, scored their fourth and final try in injury time.