Firsts succumb to last-gasp try

Hawcoat Park 1sts 35, Oldham 1sts 33

OLDHAM RUFC firsts returned from their eighth and final trip to Cumbria nursing an agonising defeat.

With the loss the Manor Park men are hanging on to fourth place in the North Lancashire and Cumbria League.

Oldham welcomed back Nick Hackman and Robert Froggatt, but it was Hawcoat Park who started the stronger and bullied the visitors off the ball at the breakdown. The hosts scored two tries on their right-hand side from the first two plays in the opening four minutes, one of which was converted.

Oldham were soon back in the game, with Will Mellor charging down an attempted clearance and winning the race to the line. Callum Megram converted.

But a speculative hoof downfield led to Hawcoat’s third try and a 17-7 lead.

The introduction of Froggatt and Luke Roscoe lifted Oldham, with the latter smashing the catcher at the restart. Ryan Arundale’s score in the corner and Megram touchline conversion reduced the deficit to three points.

Hawcoat added a penalty, only for Mellor to get through a flat-footed defence and Megram to convert for a 21-20 advantage for Oldham.

Roscoe’s solo effort increased the lead after the ball squirted out of a ruck. He then went off injured.

Back came Hawcoat with a converted try and penalty for a 30-26 lead, only for Gareth Barber to return the favour with a try under the posts, with Megram adding the extras.

Charlie Roscoe almost made the game safe when he broke the defensive line for the umpteenth time, but was brought down inches short.

With full-time approaching Oldham were reduced to 14 men when Jordan McEwan was shown a yellow card and they got bogged down in their own 22.

Chances to relieve the pressure were fluffed and more or less on the last play Hawcoat formed another 12-man maul, which Oldham couldn’t resist, to score the match-winning try.