Missing links prove costly
Date published: 15 February 2011
Photo: Pictures by CHRIS SUNDERLAND.
HIGH RISE . . . Paul Crossley leaps to win a line-out for Oldham seconds.
RUGBY UNION:
Aspatria 44, Oldham 12
OLDHAM RU went down to a 44-12 defeat at Aspatria, with only 10 of the squad who held Heaton Moor to a draw available for selection.
Back row Walter Cloete went over in the corner to give the hosts the lead after 10 minutes.
Centre Lee Askew extended the advantage five minutes later after Aspatria ran the ball along the line following a scrum.
Five minutes before the break things got worse for Oldham when they knocked on from a line-out, and from the scrum centre Hienne Jonkers forced his way over.
Gareth Barber reduced the deficit with a well-worked try after good work by Mark Brocklehurst.
Prop Gary Harrison hit back for the home team after the interval despite Oldham’s appeals for a foul on Martin Meggison. Jack Clegg converted.
Cloete touched down shortly afterwards, before Meggison was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.
An Aspatria full-back added a fine solo try, and number eight Adam Birkett followed suit.
Jonkers notched the winners’ final try, prior to Phil Graham crossing for Oldham and Barber converting.
Oldham 2nd XI 31, Vale of Lune 4th XI 11
VALE started brighter and were soon 8-0 up through a try and penalty, before Oldham’s Will Mellor beat three defenders and crossed, with Scott Danby converting.
Another penalty put Vale in front at the break but it was all Oldham in the second period, with a penalty try goaled by Danby, touchdowns from Matty Collins, Jake Watson and Stuart Brennan, and a Danby conversion doing the job.
