Brown boots Bolton aside

RUGBY UNION:

BOLTON 5 OLDHAM 9

OLDHAM secured victory in difficult conditions despite having two men in the sin bin for 10 minutes of the second half.

The pitch was still partially frozen where the sun could not get at it, but referee Jamie Leary, who was on an exchange from the Yorkshire Referees’ Society, allowed the North Lancashire Division One game to go ahead.

After their poor display of the previous weekend, this was much more like it from Oldham.

Phil Graham switched from centre to scrum-half, giving Gareth Barber good ball to get the backs moving.

Stuart Brennan came out of the forwards to slot into the three-quarter line, putting in some powerful tackles, while Ross Cooper returned at No. 8 and Mike Crouch played at blind side along with Luke Roscoe.

John Souter partnered Adam Waterhouse at lock, while the pack played as a unit and kept the opposition in check.

Josh Brown gave Oldham the early advantage with two penalties and the home team responded with a try from a rolling maul on the stroke of half-time.

After the break, Brown kicked another penalty to make it 9-5 and although Cooper and Jack Taylor were sin-binned for technical offences, Oldham’s defence held firm for the 10 minutes they were off the field and helped to secure a win which delighted coach Guy Lovegreen.

Oldham will be hoping for more of the same when they entertain Trafford MV at home next Saturday.