Spirited Oldham in Lancs Cup KO

OLDHAM RUFC 14, WIGAN 22

OLDHAM RUFC’S makeshift team produced a lively display, but were ultimately knocked out of the Lancashire Cup by Wigan in their first competitive match of the season.

Wigan sealed victory late on against an Oldham side who were without nine senior players, including captain and influential stand-off Gareth Barber and pack giant Rob Fryer.

But there were some excellent displays from the home side, with back-row forward Nick Duncan, a new recruit from Nottingham Casuals, named man-of-the-match.

Pack-man Ryan Jackson, returning after a spell with Sale Jets, stand-off Mark Goodman and Colts winger Kyle Howard also excelled.

Wigan took the lead after 14 minutes through winger Tom Woods after a lucky ricochet fell into his hands.

Oldham got on to the scoresheet through a Mark Goodman penalty, only for Wigan to extend their lead midway through the opening period through a touchdown from flanker Peter Rigby.

A powerful run from Duncan launched the move which enabled Will Mellor to score in the corner as Oldham cut the deficit to 10-8 after half an hour.

Goodman put Oldham 11-10 ahead at half-time and they would have extended their advantage had a penalty from 50 yards not struck a post soon after the restart.

Wigan regained the lead just short of the hour mark when second-row forward John Lord picked up the ball at the back of a scrum and dived over the line. Paul Peacock added the conversion to put the visitors 17-11 in front.

Goodman kept the pressure on Wigan with a penalty, but the visitors sealed victory in the dying moments after Dean McEwan was sin-binned for foul play.

Wigan made a forward break and Wayne Buller gathered up the ball from the back of a scrum to drive over the line. Peacock kicked the two extra points.