Hack-attack

Photo: Picture by Tim Abram

Nick Hackman Try

Oldham RUFC 27 Tyldesley 14

IT WAS six years since these two old rivals last met at first-team level and it was the hosts, two places and three points better off in the North Lancashire and Cumbria Division, who started favourites on their own patch.

And the early exchanges seemed to live up to that assessment, Oldham taking the lead when Jason Green collected a pass and raced over in the right-hand corner.

Soon after, the home side doubled their lead when Phil Graham made a break and passed to the supporting Gareth Barber, who in turn spread the ball wide for Callum Megram to cross over wide on the left.

However, sloppy Oldham handling on the halfway line allowed the Tyldesley centre to pick up and race half the length of the pitch for a converted try to bring the score back to 10-7.

Stung into action, Oldham’s dominant pack won a scrum against the head and the ball went through a couple of phases before Nick Hackman forced his way over for a try converted by Megram to make the score 17-7 at half-time.

Tyldesley upped their game after the break and wave after wave of attacks from the away side were met by a red and white wall of Oldham defenders with Dean McEwan, Hackman, John Souter and Ryan North leading the way.

Despite the general excellence of their their rearguard action, it was a mistake which let Tyldesley back into the game.

The visitors’ centre evaded weak Oldham tackling to slip over for another converted try.

Oldham needed to regroup and they did so with Megram kicking a penalty and McEwan sidestepping before bursting clear and sending in Hackman for his second try.

Megram converted to give Oldham victory by 13 points.

Man-of-the-match vote went to McEwan. The big prop was a constant pain to the opposition, played the full 80 minutes and set up the final try.