Oldham’s opening day woe

Photo: Paul Sterritt

GO FOR IT . . . Oldham’s Russell Billing (striped top) catches the ball at a line-out.

RUGBY UNION: OLDHAM opened their new North Lancashire One campaign with a disappointing 21-10 defeat at De La Salle in Salford.

Spirits were high after a good pre-season and despite the absence of a couple of key players, the Manor Park outfit took a strong squad down the East Lancs Road.

Oldham took an early lead when Callum Meagram slotted home a penalty, only for the De La Salle full-back to score a well-worked try to give the home side a 5-3 lead.

Ill-discipline was costing the home side, and Oldham pressure eventually told when the ball was spun out wide to the backs and Mark Goodman cut through for a well-deserved try.

Meagram added the extras to give the visitors a 10-5 advantage.

As half-time approached, Oldham gave away two penalties, both converted to give De La Salle an 11-10 lead.

The balance of the game changed afterwards, with Oldham forced to play with only 14 men for 30 minutes as three were sin-binned.

De La Salle piled pressure on the 14 men and extended their advantage.

Some excellent ground work then saw Oldham turn the ball over, only for a poor kick to gift the ball to the lively De La Salle back line and the centre went over for the only try of the second half, and this proved to be the decisive score.