Father and son star in victory

FATHER and son Stuart and Michael Collinge played a prominent role in Oldham RUFC ‘A’ team’s 36-0 victory against Littleborough which sealed sixth spot in their division.

Eighteen-year-old Michael, who plays either on the wing or in the back row of the pack, was joined by his 51-year-old father, who came on as a replacement for the final 15 minutes.

Stuart, who played in the back row, rolled back the years with some robust tackles and he also made a couple of dangerous drives.

Ziggy Vatikions burst through the Boro defence after a neat handling move to open the scoring midway through the opening period. Danny Simpson kicked the two extra points.

An almost identical move five minutes later saw Jake Watson take a wonderfully-timed pass from Phil Graham to dive over between the posts with Simpson adding his second conversion.

The forwards set up their third try as Matt Jakeman twisted and turned his way over the line as they established a 19-0 advantage at the break.

In the second period, Alan Pierre burst through three tackles to add a fourth try and that was followed by the touchdown of the game as Michael Collinge scored after a great passing move.

Will Mellor scored the final try 10 minutes from time after a great break by Owen Davies with Simpson kicking the conversion.




VETS were involved in a remarkable final league game of the season in division five east, edging to a dramatic 46-45 victory against Eccles.



Rick Brierley’s second try of the game in the dying seconds saw the Manor Park side snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Oldham established a 31-17 half-time lead through tries from Mark Bradbury, Mark Hodge, Brierley, Mark Fitton and John Selby, who also kicked three conversions.

Eccles hit back with three converted tries to move 38-31 ahead as the match swung their way.

Oldham found a second wind and responded with three tries from Neil Forsyth, Chris Davies and Brierley to triumph by the slenderest of margins.




EXTRA ‘A’ lost 40-0 in division four east at Burnage where their cause was not helped by an early injury to John Souter.