Oldham travelled to local neighbours Ashton on Saturday. With a team showing 7 changes from the week before, which unfortunately leads to a lack of continuity for the Manor Park outfit.
Oldham started the game brightly making good ground early on and enjoyed the early exchanges. Having had some decent possession they worked into the Ashton 22 but they turned the ball over when in a scoring position.
After the early exchanges Ashton got into the game playing direct rugby. They carried well and continually beat the 1st phase Oldham defence. Once in behind they spread the ball with ease having tied in Oldham. This lead to Oldham having to defend narrowly leaving plenty of room for Ashton to exploit.
Four unanswered 1st half tries, of which one was converted, gave Ashton a healthy 22-0 lead at halftime with controlled patterned rugby to which Oldham really had no answer for.
With the signs being ominous for the visitors the afternoon became even harder into the second half. With just a few minutes gone an Oldham player was red carded for alleged head contact in the tackle, taking Oldham down to 14 for the remainder of the game.
Oldham however showed some grit and fight and found a way back into the game through Jack Taylor, whose quick thinking from a quickly taken penalty, carried him 35 metres under the posts to score. Alex Jobson converted, Oldham were on the board.
Ashton however took back control and continued where they had left off in the first half. Strong carries from the Ashton forwards and the Oldham defence continued to be under pressure losing the gain line battle.
Two further Ashton scores sandwiched Oldham’s only other score of the day. Tom Davies began the move from deep in the Oldham half and the ball landed in winger Reece Blakeley’s hands. He showed what he can do in space leaving a number of Ashton defenders in his wake, tearing up the right wing. As the fullback came across he timed the pass inside to perfection to Jobson who circled round under the posts and converted to takes Oldham’s points up to 14 for the afternoon.
The home side however weren’t to be denied though. With the game in the closing minutes, went over for a further converted try to leave the final score at 43-14 in Ashton’s favour.
Not a memorable afternoon for the Manor Park men. However two performers of note were Jack Taylor whose quick thinking gave his best all afternoon in defiance of what else was going on around him. However Josh Semple took Oldham’s player of the match for his relentless carrying straight and hard and his massive defensive effort
Oldham have much work to do ahead of their next fixture at home to Ormskirk on the 21st of the month.
Jim Forster
