Oldham RU swiftly back on track

Oldham RUFC returned to Manor Park last weekend looking to get back to winning ways after narrowly missing out in the National Cup the previous week.

What was originally a free weekend in most people’s calendars became a rearranged fixture against Clitheroe, in which Oldham triumphed 39-27 - the reverse fixture having been abandoned earlier in the season due to an unfortunate injury to the referee.

The previous meeting saw Clitheroe take an early lead before the game was halted, and this encounter began in similar fashion.

Straight from the kick-off, the visitors came out firing, building through multiple phases with quick ruck speed and powerful carries to move deep into Oldham territory.

Despite the defensive efforts of Chris Shaw, Isaac Dobbs, and Owen Hewson, the pressure eventually told as Clitheroe crossed for the game’s opening try, which was duly converted.

From the restart, Clitheroe continued to play with confidence.

A strong carry and some questionable defending from the hosts saw the visitors’ lock break through from halfway at pace, only to be stopped by a superb last-ditch tackle from full-back Alex Jobson, who dislodged the ball to force a knock-on.

From the resulting scrum, Oldham cleared their lines through the reliable boot of Tom Davies, relieving some early pressure.

The respite was brief.

With the wind at their backs, Clitheroe were soon back in Oldham’s 22, stringing together hard carries and slick handling. Once again, they found a way through to score their second try of the afternoon.

The conversion drifted wide, but the visitors had built a commanding 12-0 lead.

It was beginning to look like a long afternoon for the men in red and white, with frustrations starting to show.

Something needed to change quickly if Oldham were to regain control.

From the kick-off, Oldham went deep, and a determined chase led by Sean Carter forced a hurried clearance that sailed out just outside the Clitheroe 22.

Finally, Oldham had a platform to build from. From the lineout, they set up a catch-and-drive - a tactic that has served them well all season.

Clitheroe held firm initially, but when the maul stalled, fly-half Jordan McEwan spread the play wide.

Swift hands across the backline saw Jobson straighten and draw the drifting defender before offloading to winger Ryan Lord, making his first start in red and white.

Lord brushed off two defenders to score in the corner for Oldham’s first try. Jobson converted impressively from out wide.

It was exactly the response coach Jim Forster had asked for, and it sparked Oldham into life.

Building confidence, they began to dominate possession with strong carries from Dean McEwan, Luke Ferrier, and Josh Semple.

Their structured play soon earned a penalty after a lazy defender was caught at the ruck.

Captain Tom Davies kicked to the corner, setting the forwards up again.

The maul crept closer to the line before quick ball found Jordan McEwan, who delicately chipped over the defence for Jobson to gather and touch down under the posts.

He added the extras to make it 14-12 to Oldham.

In previous seasons, Oldham might have struggled to recover from such a start, but this side showed real resilience.

Clitheroe, however, weren’t about to roll over.

From the restart, they piled on pressure once more and were rewarded when Louis Fitton was adjudged to have carried the ball back into his own 22 before clearing, gifting Clitheroe a lineout deep in Oldham’s half.

The visitors probed with hard running and quick recycling, but Oldham’s defence stood firm.

Strong tackles from Paul Wardle, Shaw, and Dobbs held them out, and when Clitheroe tried to go wide, Hewson shot up to chop his opposite man, allowing Davies to pounce for a vital turnover penalty.

Oldham cleared and advanced upfield through carries from Greg Higgins, Semple, and Dobbs, setting a solid platform.

Crisp hands released winger Phil Conroy down the right touchline to put the hosts on the front foot.

Patient phase play followed, with fine interplay between forwards and backs stretching the Clitheroe defence.

Quick thinking from scrum-half Fitton saw him chip cross-field for Lord and Jobson to chase.

Under pressure, the Clitheroe defender spilled the ball, allowing Jobson to pounce and dot down.

Another successful conversion followed.

The men in red and white were now in control.

Relentless pressure from Carter, Davies, Shaw, and Hewson drove them back into the Clitheroe 22, where a defensive infringement handed Oldham a penalty.

Jobson stepped up and struck cleanly to extend the lead to 22-12.

With the half-backs Fitton and McEwan dictating play, Oldham moved the ball confidently in both directions.

The pressure told again when Clitheroe were penalised for going off their feet, and a dissenting remark to the referee saw one of their players sent off.

Jobson’s penalty attempt struck the upright - but winger Lord chased it down, regathered, and touched down for his second try of the game.

Jobson added the extras, giving Oldham a commanding 29-12 half-time advantage.

After a slow start, Oldham had completely turned the contest around.

The message from coaches Forster and Jack Sayle at the interval was simple: more of the same.

From the restart, Oldham immediately applied pressure through Semple, Higgins, and Dobbs.

Clitheroe tried to spread the play, but Oldham’s drift defence was rock solid, forcing a loose pass that Davies scooped up before feeding Hewson, who released Lord to skip past two defenders and complete a well-deserved hat-trick.

Jobson narrowly missed the conversion.

Oldham were now in full control, giving nothing away defensively.

Relentless line speed from Rhys Jones, Harvey Ward, and Conroy forced more Clitheroe errors, as the visitors - still a man down - began to tire.

A brief spell of Oldham indiscipline allowed Clitheroe to claw one back, crashing over for a try that went unconverted.

Replacement Reece Blakeley, on for the injured Lord, made an instant impact with his energy and tackling.

Another forced error saw Davies hack the ball through, winning the foot race to score Oldham’s final try of the afternoon.

Jobson’s conversion drifted wide.

Oldham might have felt the game was wrapped up, but a late yellow card to Jobson for a high tackle left them a man down.

Clitheroe took the resulting penalty with ease to add to their afternoon's tally and make it 39-20

Clitheroe continued to take advantage, scoring a late consolation try to secure a four-try bonus point.

The conversion was successful, meaning a 39-27 victory.

There were plenty of positives to take from the performance - not least the team’s composure after a shaky start and the confidence shown in attack.

Manor Park remains a fortress this season, something the squad will be determined to maintain.

The next challenge comes next weekend when Oldham host high-flying Burnley, who remain unbeaten in the league.

Man of the Match: Winger Ryan Lord - whose tireless defensive work and well-taken hat-trick earned him the nod.

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