Encouraging signs for Barber

OLDHAM firsts took a lot of positives from their 18-12 defeat at home to Trafford MV as preparations for the start of the North Lancashire Division One season on September 14 got under way in earnest.

New player-coach Gareth Barber fielded a strong side for the warm-up clash, with Mark Goodman on from the first whistle and Pete Scrivens returning off the bench at scrum-half.

The pack fancied their chances of bossing the set piece with Dean McEwan and Jamie Edwards at prop and Nick Hackman – back from playing rugby league – in the second row.

For their part, Trafford arrived at Manor Park with a young-looking side with plenty of pace in the backs.

Oldham had a let off after five minutes as a kickable penalty hit the right-hand post.

The hosts’ initial thoughts about controlling the set piece seemed to be coming to fruition as they began to push the Trafford pack about in the scrum and gained a number against the head.

It took until the 17th minute, though, before Oldham got out of their own half via a run out of defence by Phil Conroy.

The Oldham tackling on the whole was excellent, most typified by a crunching tackle by Brian Massey on the Trafford winger, dumping him in touch and winning the ball back for the home side.

However, Trafford went in front through a converted try and while Jordan McEwan pulled his penalty attempt wide, the visitors made no mistake with a three-pointer of their own before half-time.

Trafford scored their second try three minutes after the restart to lead 15-0.

But that effort signalled a comeback from Oldham as Hackman burst through to score and McEwan added the conversion.

Then, in the 62nd minute, Massey went over wide on the left after an initial break by Scrivens. Goodman missed the goal.

Oldham were in the ascendancy, but were unable to find the killer pass and a penalty late on sealed their fate.