Oldham backs have field day

Joe Hesse drives forward for Oldham.

Oldham RUFC 52, North Manchester 3
AFTER going behind to an early penalty, Oldham never looked back and scored 52 unanswered points for an emphatic victory in North Lancashire Division One.

Electing to run everything, Oldham made their first breakthrough when a good drive by Stuart Brennan released Will Mellor, who fed Gareth Barber to sidestep his way though and score in the corner. Callum Meagram converted from the touchline.

Oldham’s forwards were in the ascendancy with Jordan McEwan and Ross Cooper driving forward, ably supported by John Souter.

But the hosts were reduced to 14 men after 24 minutes when Jack Taylor was deemed to have handled in a ruck. He was followed five minutes later by opposition prop Francis Lee for ungentlemanly conduct.

Oldham’s Joe Hesse was having a great game, picking up from the base of scrums and breaking several tackles.

As pressure mounted on the North Manchester line, Oldham won a line-out and quickly passed the ball through the backs for Ryan North, who completed the move on the wing. Meagram converted from the touchline to take Oldham into a 14-3 half-time lead.

Oldham soon extended that lead when Hesse evaded three tacklers to score under the posts, and Souter was next on the scoresheet, going over in the corner after good work by Hesse, Barber and Ross Cooper.

After Mellor outpaced the defence and Meagram converted, Oldham led 33-3 and the game was over as a contest.

But Oldham remained hungry for points and Jake Watson sold an outrageous dummy to run 50 metres and score between the posts.

Souter did likewise from 60 metres, and the same player fed Taylor who in turn released Barber.

Meagram continued the move and set up Louis Fitton to race over.

In-form Oldham’s next game is at Mossley Hill before matches against leaders Tarleton and third-placed St Edwards OB.