Toughing it out for a victory

GARETH BARBER . . . a constant thorn in the side of Wigton

OLDHAM Rugby Union Club firsts made it five wins from seven treks to Cumbria, with a rare success at Wigton firsts.

Despite travelling with a team containing no backs on the bench for the North Lancashire and Cumbria League clash, the visitors ran out 17-13 victors to leave the side needing only a point from the final game of the season against relegated Silloth in two weeks' time to ensure finishing fourth.

Ryan Clark kicked an early penalty for the hosts, who played the first half downhill, before Alex Jobson could not quite hang on for Oldham with the line at his mercy.

REORGANISATION

Winger Phil Graham then pulled a hamstring, leaving the visitors up against it. Wigton took advantage of the reorganisation to score through Aaron Henderson in the corner for an 8-0 lead after a break from a scrum.

Oldham didn't panic, though. With Gareth Barber pushed wide in an adjusted line-up, Jobson kicked a penalty from in front of the posts after a spell where the team looked dangerous in terms of carving out chances.

Oldham's defence was fighting fire with fire in dealing with the Wigton forwards and Ryan North was winning his fair share at the line out and making a nuisance of himself around the park with or without the ball.

It was vital that Oldham made a good start to the second half and in using the slope, Barber regularly pinned the hosts back with kicks.

Dean McEwan then broke to set up a move that ended with Will Mellor going in from 30 metres, Jobson converting for a 10-8 lead.

It was a purple patch for Oldham and from a line-out, Mellor split the defence to set Barber up with a free run to the line, Jobson adding the goal.

Man-of-the-match Charlie Roscoe was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and North was also sent to the sin bin for an offence at the breakdown.

It left a tough 15 minutes to see out, but aside from a score from Jay Henderson on the very last play, Oldham held on to make it nine wins from 10 since Christmas.