Sloppy Oldham pay the penalty
Date published: 08 March 2011
Photo: Chris Sunderland
IT’S IN HERE SOMEWHERE . . . Oldham and Keswick packs battle to win possession.
RUGBY UNION: BOTTOM side Keswick stunned Oldham 35-0 in the North Lancs and Cumbria Division, scoring five tries to earn a bonus point at Manor Park.
Gareth Barber had a last minute fitness test on a back injury and took his place on the field, but was unable to influence proceedings.
A similar ailment kept out Gary Phelan, who was replaced by Chris Pickles.
Brian Massey and Will Mellor stepped in for cry-offs Dean McEwan and Martin Kenny.
Guy Lovegreen’s side found themselves constantly on the back foot throughout this relegation clash.
Possession and territory were at a premium, and Oldham conceded too many penalties.
A breakaway try in the fifth minute set the tone. A loose pass allowed winger Vick Wilmot to
collect the ball in his own half and outpace the Oldham defence to touch down in the corner.
Andy Muir missed the conversion, but he kicked a penalty goal two minutes later.
The second try arrived in the 29th minute courtesy of Andy Wardle, with Muir adding the extras before slotting over another penalty with the half-time whistle looming.
The second period was one-way traffic in Keswick’s favour.
They racked up three more tries — Andrew Thompson, Ryan Graham and Grant Mowbray touched down — one of which was converted by Muir.
Keswick remain bottom of the table with 24 points. In their next game they face nearest side Furness, who are three points better off.
Oldham and Whitehaven have 28 to their name, in an increasingly congested bottom pile.
Oldham travel to Workington next looking for an instant return to winning ways in their
battle to beat the drop.
