Penalty points prove costly

Heaton Moor 1sts 21, Oldham RUFC 1sts 10

RUGBY UNION: OLDHAM may have lost this North Lancashire Division One fixture, but they matched their hosts’ two tries and, ultimately, it was penalties that caused their downfall.

Two Moor penalties and a try set Oldham players on their heels, and they responded well - only to see the final pass go astray far too often.

After 27 minutes they finally gained their reward when Phil Graham made a fine break and provided a defence-splitting pass to Phil Conroy, who raced down the right wing, drew the full-back and passed back inside for the supporting Graham to go over.

Trailing 11-5 at the break, Oldham were poised to stage a recovery, but another penalty left them nine points behind before they scored their second try.

With only five minutes remaining, the ball broke loose at a line-out and the Moor prop reacted quickest to poach a try which was converted to complete the scoring.

Tom Hannon, making his first start in the Oldham first team, was outstanding in the scrums and open play and was a unanimous choice by the rest of the squad as man of the match.