Carry on regardless!

Nick McDowell . . . broke leg in Vets game.

RUGBY UNION:

McDowell wanted to play - with a broken leg

FLY-HALF Nick McDowell attempted to do a Stuart Pearce despite suffering a broken leg playing for Oldham RU Vets on Saturday.

England under-21s football coach Pearce famously carried on for West Ham until backroom staff realised he had broken his leg and dragged him off.

Courageous McDowell’s departure came after he indicated a desire to keep playing.

Team spokesman Chris Davies said: “Nick was aware that he had done something serious.

“He is a true team player and wanted to continue as the Vets were under so much pressure, but he was in a lot of pain.”

His side tried in vain to stave off waves of Toc H attacks in a 48-7 loss.

McDowell said: “I wanted to carry on, but it was obvious the injury was serious and I was carried off.”

McDowell, contracts manager for a ceiling company, has been turning out for Oldham for 12 years.

“I have done rib cartilages, thumbs and fingers while playing rugby, but this is the worst injury I’ve had,” he added. On a luckless weekend for Oldham, they also lost another Vet through injury in Mike Green, who was forced off with a twisted knee. And ‘A’ team centre Jordan McEwan dislocated his elbow against Tyldesley. The game stopped for 50 minutes while an ambulance arrived and took him to hospital.