RU fightback in vain

ST BENEDICTS . . . . . . . 20

OLDHAM RUFC . . . . . . . 14

OLDHAM RUFC returned from Cumbria empty handed following a narrow defeat at St Benedicts in North Lancs/Cumbria division.

It was a closely-contested match which could have gone either way and Oldham’s cause was not helped by a couple of late cry-offs as well as further mishaps during the match.

Prop forwards Jordan McEwan and Jamie Edwards went off injured after seven and 47 minutes respectively as the pack, which was lightweight compared with the Whitehaven side’s giant forwards, was weakened further.

Then in the dying minutes, Oldham, who were aiming to complete a brave comeback, had Nick Duncan and Ryan Jackson both harshly sin-binned for stealing the ball off their opponents as Oldham finished with only 13 players.

Ryan Fisher kicked Saints into a third-minute lead with a penalty and they increased their advantage on the half-hour when prop Jamie Jardine drove over from a lineout, with Fisher kicking the two extra points.

Then in first half stoppage time, back-row forward Scott Wood touched down following a lineout move, with Fisher converting to give Saints a 17-0 lead.

Oldham launched their spirited reply 10 minutes after the restart when Rob Fryer and Mark Goodman worked a delightful move which ended with Goodman touching down and then adding the conversion.

Midway through the second period came another Oldham try as Gareth Barber touched down after a move from a scrum which involved Phil Graham, Barber, Andy Gorey and Barber who finished it. Goodman kicked the conversion and Oldham had cut the deficit to 17-14 to put the outcome in the balance.

However, the loss of Duncan and Jackson halted their comeback and Fisher rubbed salt in the wounds by kicking a late penalty for Saints.