Pack paves the way to vital win

Photo: Picture by CHRIS BULL

Oldham’s Alan Pierre drives in against Burnley.

RUGBY UNION: PACK power paved the way for Oldham RU first team to record a vital 18-14 home win over Burnley in the North Lancs/Cumbria division.

The forwards turned in their most effective display of the season, with Paddy Farnan particularly impressive.

But the back line wasted several opportunities by trying to force passes when more patience was required.

With Oldham also having four touchdowns disallowed, it all made for a tense affair which was in the balance right up to the final whistle.

Straight from the kick-off, Oldham camped out in the Burnley half and had an early try chalked off when Jake Watson charged down a clearance but he referee ruled that Oldham players were offside in the follow-up.

Surprisingly, Burnley took a seventh-minute lead when an Oldham attack broke down and winger Theo Coleman collected the ball inside his own half and sprinted clear to score under the posts, leaving Phil Hesketh with a simple conversion.

Mark Goodman’s penalty reduced the arrears and Oldham had three more touchdown’s ruled out - one of them most unfortunate when the forwards drove over but the referee could not see the grounding.

Another Goodman penalty made it 7-6 at the interval and Oldham went ahead for the first time after 55 minutes.

Gareth Barber turned defence into attack, running the ball from his own line.

The move continued through Andy Gorey, Goodman and winger Mike Douthwaite who ended a surging run with an inside pass for Gorey to score a try, converted by Goodman.

Burnley struck back when some poor defence allowed Ben Lancaster to score a try which Hesketh converted to give the visitors a one-point lead.

Goodman failed with two long-range penalty attempts before Oldham made the decisive breakthrough after 70 minutes.

Douthwaite attacked on the right wing and kicked ahead for Barber to win the foot race and score the winning try.

Oldham had a nervous final ten minutes before securing two points, which were made all the more significant as their nearest rivals Upper Eden, Fleetwood and Eccles were all successful.