Oldham RU edge out local rivals Dukinfield

Oldham RUFC returned to Manor Park to face local rivals Dukinfield after a break for international duties, and edged to a 20-17 victory.

A highly anticipated fixture rich in history and usually tightly contested, the weather played its part too - making expansive rugby difficult and turning the game into a dogfight.

Manor Park has been a fortress so far this season, with Oldham proud to say they remain unbeaten at home.

It’s a point reinforced before every match, and every visiting team arrives eager to break that record.

A strong Dukinfield side certainly looked up for the task.

As ever, Oldham made a few changes to the team from the previous week, including first-team debuts for winger Cameron Robinson and flanker Tom Jowle.

A late withdrawal saw Jack Sayle added to the bench.

Dukinfield applied pressure straight from kick-off, forcing an Oldham handling error into touch.

From the resulting lineout the visitors launched a series of hard carries and quick phases.

Oldham defended bravely through Jack Taylor, Josh Semple, Sean Carter, and Isaac Dobbs, but the pressure eventually told as Dukinfield crashed over for the opening score.

With the conversion just short, it was 0–5 to the visitors.

Oldham responded immediately, regathering possession and building pressure through strong carries from Paul Wardle, Rhys Jones, Chris Shaw, Greg Higgins, and Owen Hewson, consistently getting over the gain line.

Well marshalled by halfback pairing Lewis Ward and skipper Tom Davies, Oldham camped deep in the Dukinfield 22.

Swift hands from Davies, Hewson and Alex Jobson released Louis Fitton, who stepped his way over to level the scores.

Jobson was just wide with the extras: 5–5.

From the restart Oldham continued to turn the screw. Davies’ kicks pinned the young Dukinfield back three, with strong chases from wingers Cameron and Adam Robinson.

Oldham retained possession in the visitors’ half, but a lapse in composure saw them penalised at the ruck.

Dukinfield cleared their lines and returned to their pattern: a solid lineout and strong carries.

Oldham’s defence - through Dobbs, Carter, Davies and debutant Jowle - again stood firm, but repeated pressure eventually drew penalties.

A superb touch-finder from the Dukinfield fly-half set up a dangerous lineout deep in Oldham territory.

A well-worked move saw the No. 8 sweep down the 5m channel, powering through three defenders to score in the corner.

The conversion missed again: Oldham 5–10 Dukinfield.

At half-time, Coach Jim Forster urged composure and defensive resilience.

The game was very much in the balance, but Oldham knew they would have to dig deep.

Ward made way for fly-half Jordan McEwan, with Fitton shifting to scrum-half.

The second half began with a moment of brilliance as front-rower Jones leapt like a salmon to pluck the ball from the air and burst into space - only to be isolated and turned over.

Oldham were the stronger side after the restart, executing the game plan and working their way into a dangerous position.

Semple, Carter and Dobbs carried powerfully, setting the platform.

Quick ball unleashed the backs, and a neat kick through was seized by debutant Cameron Robinson, scoring his first try for the club.

The conversion was again hampered by the conditions, and it was 10–10.

With the game on a knife edge, both sides searched for an advantage.

A trademark Fitton up-and-under was reclaimed, and Oldham surged forward.

Robinson, Jobson and Carter kept the pressure on, but a loose carry handed possession back to the visitors.

Dukinfield attempted to run from deep, but relentless defensive pressure from Hewson, Davies and Wardle forced a loose pass.

McEwan pounced, receiving a fortuitous bounce under the posts to score the easiest try of his career.

Jobson added the extras: Oldham 17–10.

Oldham’s old habit of switching off from kick-offs returned, and Dukinfield regathered with an excellent aerial claim.

A series of carries battered the tiring Oldham defence, and further ill-discipline proved costly.

Opting for a scrum near the line, Dukinfield drove Oldham back and their No. 8 dotted down from the base.

This time the conversion was successful: 17–17.

In a game with such fine margins, it was destined to take a moment of brilliance to settle it.

Dukinfield were again pressing on Oldham’s line when Jones intercepted and charged 30 metres (though he may well claim it was 60).

He hacked ahead for Robinson to chase, with the Dukinfield full-back only just winning the race but knocking the ball into touch.

From the lineout deep in the Dukinfield 22, strong carries from Dobbs, Jowle and Higgins kept Oldham building pressure.

The visitors strayed offside and, with advantage being played, Semple powered over - but the referee judged it to be knocked on.

Jobson stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty: Oldham 20–17.

For Coach Forster, the final ten minutes must have felt like the longest of the season.

Dukinfield launched an all-out assault and camped on Oldham’s try line.

Tensions boiled over, resulting in yellow cards for two Oldham players and one from Dukinfield.

The visitors tried to repeat their earlier scrum success, but this time the Oldham pack held solid.

With the clock in the red and a Dukinfield score seeming inevitable, Dobbs produced a crunching tackle to prevent a certain try, isolating the carrier.

Jowle followed up with a crucial tackle to win the penalty.

The ball was cleared to touch, the whistle blown, and Manor Park erupted.

Manor Park remains a fortress after another tightly-fought contest.

Man of the match was Isaac Dobbs - and it was fully deserved for his unstoppable carries and immense defensive work.

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