Disputed try proves costly

RUGBY UNION: OLDHAM RU left Workington with a 23-10 defeat and feeling aggrieved after key refereering decisions went against them.

The play-off chasing home side were awarded a crucial try despite a knock-on which was so obvious that both sets of players stopped in their tracks - apart from winger Dion Smith who laughed all the way to the try line for a converted touchdown.

Before that setback, Oldham had played with great spirit.

The forwards, although struggling in the scrum, dominated the lineout, thanks to Chris McKenzie, and battled well in the loose.

Workington went ahead with a sixth-minute drop goal from John Chisnal but Oldham responded when Jason Green intercepted a pass and ran 80 metres to score an unconverted try.

Kevin Harper’s try restored Workington’s advantage and they extended that to 11-5 at the interval thanks to a penalty awarded for offside ten metres in from touch, but allowed to be taken from in front of the posts.

Smith’s gift try, ten minutes into the second half, failed to deter Oldham and they hit back with a series of forward drives from which Gareth Barber released Andy Gorey to scamper over the line.

It was all to play for at 18–10, but Workington made sure with a converted try from David Bowe.




OLDHAM 2nds lost 15-5 at home to their bogey team, Broughton 1st - the fourth successive defeat to their old rivals.



Despite fielding a strong team and applying early pressure, Oldham fell behind to a 14th-minute try.

However, they levelled after an excellent rolling maul ended with Mike Collinge touching down.

Broughton regained the lead early in the second half with a try wide on the right.

And, as tempers frayed, Oldham ended up with two players in the sin-bin and Broughton one.

The visitors made the extra man count with their third unconverted touchdown near the end.




THE third team pulled away from the relegation zone with a crushing 57-0 win over Heaton Moor 3rd.



Oldham dominated in all areas and an early try put Heaton Moor on the back foot.

With the forwards setting the platform and supplying clean ball to the backs, Oldham scored at will.

Tries came from Mark Fitton (2), Andy Newton (2), Chris Gill (2), Anthony Beswick, John Leach and John Farrell. Lee Whitehead kicked six conversions.




OLDHAM Vets/4ths defeated Ashton-u-Lyne 2nds 49-5.



With Dominic Hall dominating the lineouts and hooker Les Moran winning almost every scrum, Oldham turned their superiority into points thanks to first-half tries from Jim Forster, Matt Burgess, Dave Roberts and Jon Selby.

Ashton responded at the start of the second period and a spell of pressure ended with them grabbing an unconverted try.

However, from the restart Oldham’s forwards pounded Ashton’s defence to set up tries for Chris Pickles, Danny Simpson, Dave Roberts and Jon Selby.

Conversions came from Jim Forster (2), Danny Simpson and Jon Selby.




OLDHAM are playing a friendly against a team from Stockport Police - including Manor Park players Chris Pickles and Jimmy Forster - at home under floodlights tonight (7pm).