Slipshod Oldham punished for errors

LITTLEBOROUGH 22, OLDHAM RUFC 6
RUGBY: COMPROMISED by cry-offs and hindered by their own blunders, Oldham were soundly beaten in this North Lancashire Division One Fixture.

Littleborough scored three tries which came about through Oldham mistakes. The first came from an interception as Oldham moved the ball along the backs, the second was a fluke when a try-line clearance struck a goal post and stayed in play for a simple touchdown, and the third was a result of a misplaced kick towards touch.

This was always going to be a difficult game for a lighter and younger Oldham pack and the cry-offs did not help even though back row men Nick Hackman and Adam Waterhouse took up positions and ensured Oldham held on to the ball from their line-outs. But the longer the game went on, the more the home pack controlled matters and the second half was played mainly in Oldham territory.

The visitors looked good in the first quarter, but strong defence by Boro restricted them to a Joshua Brown penalty goal which was matched by Chris Park.

The interception try came from wing man Matthew Goldthorpe, but Oldham scored a second penalty to reduce their half-time deficit to two points.

The “goal post” try, converted by Park, came after 70 minutes and the hosts wrapped up victory when Andy Bairstow scored a late try which was once again added to by Park.

Oldham are away again on Saturday, at Barrow Hawcoat Park (formerly Vickers).