First-half blitz puts Oldham in control

LIFT-OFF . . . Lewis North gets a helping hand from two Oldham team-mates as he catches the ball at a line-out.

Oldham firsts 41, Silloth 3

OLDHAM RU firsts decisively avoided a third successive defeat at Manor Park, sweeping aside Silloth in the North Lancashire and Cumbria League.

On a wet pitch and up against another side promoted last season, Oldham started the game without Nick Hackman, but was able to draft Luke Roscoe into a strong squad.

Early pressure from the hosts brought with it a three-pointer from Callum Megram and midway through the opening period, Oldham hit a purple patch. Four tries arrived before the interval — two on half-time — with John Souter’s first providing controversy with some Silloth players claiming the ball wasn’t properly grounded.

The visitors added a penalty of their own before captain Gareth Barber went in, albeit with a suspicion of crossing, Phil Graham touched down a try and Megram dived over to round off an excellent team move. The latter added two conversions for a 27-3 half-time lead.

Oldham continued to dominate in the second half, but Silloth fought fire with defensive fire to remain competitive throughout.

The hosts added two converted tries when Lewis North pounced on a loose ball deep in opposition territory and then Graham found himself on the end of a series of drives to increase the try count under the posts. The home side’s man of the match was Adam Waterhouse

Fourth-placed Oldham travel to Hawcoat Park, another club who find themselves at the wrong end of the league table, on Saturday.