Depleted Oldham seal fourth straight victory

MAKING HIS MARK . . . Bobby Cullen was in great form for Oldham in their latest victory

OLDHAM RUFC firsts made it four wins in a row in Cumbria, defeating Hawcoat Park firsts 26-6 to continue a good recent run.

With the trio of Callum Megram, Louis North and Luke Roscoe all out for the season, only 17 players were on board the bus travelling north to take on a well-built side.

STORM

Hawcoat kicked off and went 3-0 in front after five minutes through a penalty, but Oldham weathered the storm and worked their way back in.

The front row of Bobby Cullen, Jordan McEwan and 18-year-old Billy Buckley - who was man of the match - were well on top in the scrum, with Cullen looking particularly destructive and McEwan regularly hitting his cousin Ryan North at the lineout.

Will Mellor's trademark break left defenders in his wake on the way to the line and an Alex Jobson goal made it 7-3 to the visitors.

A good kicking game from the hosts pinned Oldham back and a penalty following a drive from the lineout cut the arrears to a single point.

Oldham were the more dangerous team, but poor choices were preventing tries until on the stroke of half-time, when Mellor danced through a gap. Jobson converted for a 14-6 lead.

With the elements behind them, Oldham started the second half in a confident mood.

Hawcoats Park took the game to their visitors, but in a dangerous moment Gareth Blomeley and Rob Froggatt worked overtime to prevent a try.

Froggatt was the beneficiary of a classic push over try as play moved down to the opposite end of the field and with Oldham firmly in control,

Jake Watson bounced off a number of tacklers for a score that deservedly granted a bonus point.

Jobson added the extras to round off the scoring.