Boro' edge out gutsy Oldham in Manor Park thriller

Oldham were beaten 31-27 at home by Littleborough on Saturday.

Littleborough had scored 83 points the week before, so this would be a tester of the Oldham defensive capabilities.

There were a few changes for Oldham, with Andy Joy and Gareth Owen in at centre and full back respectively.

Littleborough fired out of the blocks with two converted tries before Oldham had woken up.

There had been a lot of criticism coming from the week before of the Oldham teams tackling and game management, and at first it looked like it could be a long afternoon.

However, when Oldham got some ball they fired back with a converted try of their own.

Isaac Dobbs, the pre-season signing who carried well all afternoon, took a ball going forward after Oldham had worked to the structure which they run with the forwards and after two other strong carries Dobbs drove over from 10 metres out.

Alex Jobson converted to make it 14-7.

Oldham then continued to control possession but could not turn the pressure into points.

Two dropped passes ended up being costly with the line begging on two occasions which would have finished off decent passages of play.

As is often when Oldham let off the opposition, Littleborough were clinical with their finishing and went over again for a converted try to take a halftime 21-7 lead.

The second half began with some Oldham pressure.

Oldham needed to score first and they did through a Jobson penalty to take it to 21-10.

Oldham felt that they had the ascendency.

Tom Davies was next to score with a try following some good work down the right hand side.

He then patched onto a clearance kick from the Littleborough full back to volley the ball and pick it up to score, with another Jobson conversion the score was 21-17.

Littleborough answered back almost straightaway with a converted try of their own as the Oldham defence couldn’t stop them on the goal line with forwards struggling to deal with the pace of the Littleborough backs.

At 28-17 Oldham needed to answer with 10 or so minutes left.

Oldham again built pressure and following a lineout on the Borough 22 a catch and drive led to Stuart Brennan barrelling over from a textbook forward set piece - it was now 28-22 after a missed conversion, still with time left.

A huge effort from the Oldham pack and pressure at a defensive Littleborough scrum saw Jordan McEwan turn the ball over to give Brennan his second of the day.

Unfortunately Jobson missed the difficult conversion against a swirling wind, leaving Oldham with a one point deficit and the score was 28-27.

Oldham then attempted to win the ball back giving a penalty away which Littleborough kicked to end the game 31-27.

A great game of rugby, referee'd to allow the game to flow.

This was a much better Oldham performance, but still with plenty to work on for the coaching staff.

Man of the match went to Nick Hackman for his good carrying and defensive effort.

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