Early four-try blast leaves Oldham RU with a mountain to climb

Oldham's Stuart Brennan makes a rare break

Oldham RUFC were thumped 42-0 at New Brighton on Saturday.

Having won four of their previous five games, Oldham were upbeat and fancying a rare away victory at the home of one of the fallen giants of Northern Rugby Union.

However, those thought were gone just 15 minutes into the game as New Brighton scored four tries to race into a lead which gave them the confidence to run the ball from anywhere and at any chance they had.

Oldham were shell-shocked and it showed with first up tackling and defensive lines non-existent.

Oldham pretty much defended for the first half and the score line at half-time was 32-0.

With a couple of personnel changes at the break it looked ominous for an extremely high score.

However, Oldham kept New Brighton to 10 second half points.

The game as a whole was one to forget for Oldham who will undo the good work of the previous week’s games if they play the same going into the second half of the season.

Oldham now sit eighth in the league table but the risk of falling into a relegation battle is very real, and with two home games coming up there needs to be a change in attitude and thought process from some of the squad.

Game plans and process of play are all well and good, but the basics must be done well before anything else.

One positive was Colt Sean Carter, who got MOM for a fine display in both attack and defence.

Tyldesley await at Manor Park this weekend in what is a crucial must-win game.

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