‘A’ team snatch dramatic victory

OLDHAM RU ‘A’ team scored an 18-17 home win over a Heaton Moor side which had beaten them twice last season.

Missing several players due to first-team call-ups and unavailability, Oldham fell behind after 23 minutes of a keenly-contested match when Moor scored near the posts following a ruck, and added the conversion.

The home side had to wait 35 minutes to get their first score - in bizarre circumstances.

From a lineout near their own line, Moor knocked the ball back for the full-back to clear but, to everyone’s amazement, the Moor defenders just stood by and watched as Lee Howard calmly dropped on the loose ball for the try.

Moor responded early in the second half with a penalty, but Oldham hit back strongly with two tries from inside centre Phil Graham, the first wide out on the left and the second rounding off a good passing move.

In and end-to-end game, Matty Collins made a superb try-saving tackle to protect Oldham’s lead. However, it didn’t last long as Moor grabbed a converted score to move ahead.

With time running out, Oldham’s pressure was rewarded when Moor were penalised for handling in the ruck.

Up stepped Scott Danby and from 30 metres out and 15 to the left of the posts, he slotted over the penalty to snatch victory.




A DEPLETED Vets team went down 15-7 at Rochdale thirds despite a second-half comeback.



Rochdale, with a strong set of forwards and pace in the backs, pressed hard in the first half and were rewarded with an unconverted try after 20 minutes and a disputed second score before the interval.

Oldham bounced back after the break with some excellent forward play - particularly from Mark Hodge and Neil Forsyth - keeping Rochdale on the back foot.

However, against the run of play Rochdale scored a breakaway try to make it 15-0.

Oldham kept up the pressure and it eventually paid off when Mark Fitton side-stepped his way through Rochdale’s back line to score a try, converted by Danny Simpson.




EXTRA A lost 5-0 at home to Stockport.