Service Area do it yet again
Date published: 01 October 2009
OLDHAM Service Area's under-18s team once again did the town proud, bumping the unbeaten run in that age bracket up to five years by defeating all-comers in a carnival at the weekend.
Seeing off competition from teams originating from Leigh, Lancashire and St Helens Service Areas in 25-minute games, the team produced some exciting, expansive rugby in their three matches and were by some distance the best side on show at Hopwood Hall.
Ooutstanding, it was the Oldham pack that laid the platform for the success.
In the first game against Leigh, a strong opening put the opposition under some fierce pressure.
Opening up the scoring with a try from Nathan Jewitt following Connor Martin's break, Oldham — featuring the cream of the crop within the town's amateur ranks, many of whom have played for the Oldham RL reserves side — went further ahead through Michael Ward, off a fine run and pass from Great Britain Community Lions tourist Anthony Morrison.
The final score of 8-0 flattered a Leigh side who found themselves well up against it.
In the second game, Oldham came up against Lancashire and won 12–4.
Matthew Fogarty got the first try thanks to a great run which saw him go in at the left corner, but Lancashire battled back to equalise and for 10 minutes the game was tied.
However, Oldham broke the stranglehold with a pair of tries from Morrison and one from hooker Scott Owen.
In the final game, Oldham played St Helens and again completely dominated the game to win 8–0, both tries coming from Morrison.
The hope now is that many of these players will be selected in the north-west squad which will play in a regional carnival in mid-October, from which group a Great Britain side will be selected for an international against France, plus other matches.
Oldham squad: Ross Coates, Danny Bowker, Matthew Fogerty, Michael Ward, Jack Pemberton, Nathan Jewitt, Danny Moran,Tom Hurdus, Scott Owen, Gareth Morgan, Chris Haslam, Connor Martin, David Orwell, Anthony Morrison, James Greenwood, Tom Whitehead, Chris Kiss.
