Oldham A take their revenge

GET STUCK IN: Oldham’s A team pack (red and white) put pressure on Bowden.

 OLDHAM A team avenged an early-season defeat by Bowden by beating them 15-5, despite the usual pre-match panic about raising a team.

They had to call on the services of two of the senior colts, Troy Jacob-Connor and Joe Kidd, to make their debuts - and neither looked out of place.

Oldham’s were ahead as early as the sixth minute when the forwards set up good position in the Bowden 22-metre area and, following a rolling maul, Matt Jakeman claimed the try.
The tackling from both sides in the opening half was tremendous, but an uncharacteristic mistake in defence allowed Bowden their only score - a try wide out on the left.

However, Oldham were soon back in front when they cashed in on Bowden being reduced to 14 men - their scrum-half sent to the sin-bin for two high tackles.

Another rolling maul, which gained more than 30 metres, saw John Suitor record his first ‘A’ team try and Oldham went to the interval leading 10- 5.

Bowden threw everything at Oldham in the third quarter but the home side’s defence held strong, despite giving away silly penalties.

As the half progressed, Oldham began to force their opponents to defend deeper and deeper.

Suitor was denied another try when he had the ball ripped from his grasp in the process of scoring. And Nathan Taylor had a touchdown chalked off when the referee deemed the final pass was forward.

However, in the dying minutes Chris Lamb made the most of confusion in the Bowden ranks to pounce on a loose ball over the line to ensure victory.

Hooker Danny Booth was the pick of a hard-working pack which laid the foundations for success.


A DEPLETED Vets side - ten regulars were missing - went down 19-4 to Eccles, who fielded an experienced set of forwards and young backs. Eccles took the lead with a converted try but spirited Oldham responded with a touchdown from Leigh Whitehead, converted by Paddy Locket, to level the scores by the interval.

Eccles restored their advantage with a controversial try. The game had, seemingly, stopped with most players being involved in a scuffle after Steve Tyrell took the ball in to a ruck and was stamped on by the Eccles forwards.

However, the referee allowed Eccles to go on and score a try which was converted, to make it 14-7.

Oldham came back again with the forwards keeping the ball and gaining field position. Allan Hodkinson broke from the back of a scrum and fed Dave Roberts to score a try, again converted by Locket.

Eccles responded with a try following a good move among the backs, but Oldham were cruelly denied a score when, following a good break from Nick McDowell, Leigh Whitehead kicked crossfield for Dave Roberts to go over under the posts only for the referee to rule him offside.


OLDHAM 4ths beat Village Spartans 1st 34-20, despite falling behind to two tries, one converted, in the opening 15 minutes.

The home side finally got out of the blocks and responded with two quick tries.

First the outstanding Jordan Foster went over after a great move before individual runs by Phil Walmsley and Kadeem May set up Chris Shipman to score in the corner. Andy Newton landed the conversion but, Spartans ended the half by slotting over a penalty to turn round 15-14 ahead.

Spartans added a try early in the second period, but Oldham then assumed control

Two tries from Andy Gorey and one from John Lewis, plus one conversion from Newton, carried Oldham to victory.


OLDHAM’S junior Colts battled out a 0-0 draw at Crewe & Nantwich.

Much of the second half was spent in the Crewe 22, but Oldham were indebted to a try-saving tackle from the impressive Sam Lambert when the home side did threaten.


OLDHAM RU first team made a wasted journey to Keswick to find a pitch that was frozen in several areas and was deemed unplayable.

They have complained to the league that the home side did not warn them of the problems before travelling, so avoiding a costly journey when it was unlikely the pitch was ever going to be fully thawed out.