Close thng for union side

Rugby union

OLDHAM RUFC’S makeshift team almost caused an upset at promotion-chasing Tyldesley in North Lancs/Cumbria division.

There was disappointment as the Manor Park side lost 19-18 despite producing an excellent performance.

Indeed, at half time it looked as though Oldham would triumph as they held an 18-7 advantage.

It took an heroic effort from the hosts to claw back the deficit to keep their promotion bid on track.

Oldham, already without a host of regulars, were hit by the late withdrawal of James Wilkinson which forced Andy Gorey to switch inside from the wing.

The pack, depleted by the loss of Steve Molloy and Joe Hesse, called up forty-something Chris Pickles, who had long since retired from first-team rugby, while Paddy Farnan was forced into action having also retired last season.

It was a mix-and-match team but there were some excellent individual performances from the likes of youngster Matty Collins, who was standing in for Peter Scrivens at scrum half, stand-off and captain Gareth Barber, Pickles in the back row of the pack and centres Michael Ward and Gorey.

Oldham took an early 12-0 lead when a pinpoint kick from Barber split the Tyldesley defence, enabling Gorey to run through to collect the ball and score.

Barber was also a pivotal figure in the second try, releasing Ward who ran through to score. Barber kicked the two extra points.

Tyldesley responded with a try by stand-off Ashley Worsford, goaled by Chris Grobler, but Mark Goodman kicked two penalties for Oldham in the dying minutes of the opening period.

Tyldesley capitalised on some poor Oldham tackling early in the second half as Worsford weaved his way to the try line. Grobler added the conversion and suddenly Oldham’s lead was cut to 18-14.

Goodman failed to kick a long-range penalty on the hour and Tyldesley snatched victory with five minutes left following a scrum about 20 metres from their line.

South African No 8 Theo Mynhardt released scrum-half Lee Cunliffe who darted over the try line.