McEwan the hat-trick ace

OLDHAM Rugby Union club president Barry Jones staged a reunion for former players at Manor Park. Mr Jones (centre front) is flanked by Barry Ibbotson (on his left), who came over from Australia, and Alan Rhodes, who travelled from London.

OLDHAM Rugby Union club president Barry Jones staged a reunion for former players at Manor Park. Mr Jones (centre front) is flanked by Barry Ibbotson (on his left), who came over from Australia, and Alan Rhodes, who travelled from London.
Local rugby union


JORDAN McEWAN claimed a hat-trick of tries as Oldham RUFC ‘A’ recorded a comprehensive 51-5 victory at Village Spartans first team.

It was the first time for three years that the ‘A’ XV had recorded back-to-back wins and they did so in style by scoring nine touchdowns.

Steve Connolly made the initial breakthrough after only five minutes, the first of six-first half tries as McEwan, Michael Collinge, Jake Watson, Matty Collins and Phil Graham also scored.

Danny Simpson kicked one conversion as Oldham established a 32-0 advantage by the break.

Spartans dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second period as they were determined to avoid being humiliated, and they managed a consolation try on the hour.

This kick-started Oldham back to life and they ran home three further tries in the last quarter of the match, two coming from McEwan to complete his treble.

Collinge scored a second try while Simpson kicked two further conversions.




VETS continued their winning run with a 29-12 success at Ashton-under-Lyne seconds.

They had the league points secured by half time after building a 29-0 lead through tries from Dominic Hall, Tim Belcher, Kevin Byrom, Neil Forsyth and Rick Brierley. Ian White added two conversions.

The second half did not live up to the first as Oldham made five changes at the break to give some of their younger players a run out.

This disrupted the balance of the side and Ashton hit back with two tries, one of which was converted.


COLTS completed a league double against Blackburn with a 19-0 success at Manor Park.

The opening period was scoreless as the two teams cancelled each other out.

And the second half continued in the same vein until Michael Collinge charged down an attempted clearance, gathered the ball and crashed over the line, with Mark Goodman adding the conversion.

Blackburn remained hard to break down until Charlie Roscoe spotted a gap in their defence to release Michael Ward for a try between the posts which left Goodman with a simple conversion.

And in the dying seconds Chris Davey scored his first try of the season.