Determined Oldham see off De La Salle

Oldham RUFC showed plenty of grit and determination as they defeated De La Salle 24-19 at Manor Park.

Oldham got off to a solid start, putting pressure on the opposition line with a catch and drive towards the line only for a questionable flag from the De La Salle touch judge denying them a try after only a few minutes.

Oldham controlled territory for much of the first half, but struggled to turn it into points, going close several times.

De La Salle missed two easy penalty kicks coming back into the game, and seemed to take the ascendency from Oldham until Alex Jobson opened the scoring.

The visitors cleared from their line, but failed to find touch with Jobson kicking over to the right-hand side.

Jobson was first there with Isaac Dobbs who counter-rucked to turn the ball over, with Jobson picking up and speeding over and then converting the try to give Oldham a 7-0 lead.

De La Salle had lost a player to the bin and Oldham again had territory.

The Oldham front row of Paul Wardle, Jones and Sayle were enjoying their work at scrum time, continuously moving the opposition back at every opportunity.

Oldham just couldn't cross over the De La line and at half time the game was finely in the balance.

Oldham built early pressure but seemed to turn the ball over at key moments.

Oldham spilled the ball on the De La 22-metre line, which gave the opposition the platform to make yards and this led to their opening score from a catch and drive lineout.

It went unconverted to leave the score 7-5 in Oldham’s favour.

With the game close, the next score became crucial.

Sean Carter, who is having a breakout season for Oldham, became the next name on the score sheet after Jobson’s cross field kick bounced in front of the De La winger straight into Carter’s arms for him to score.

Unconverted, it left Oldham in front 12-5.

De La fired back straight away and barring two last ditch defensive efforts from Jordan McEwan and Carter they should have scored.

The line was finally crossed by De La and with it being converted, the game was locked at 12-12.

Tom Davies' kicking game regularly got Oldham great territory and it was following a penalty to the corner Oldham scored again.

From the resulting lineout the Oldham forwards went for the line.

Following numerous penalties the De La number 8 was sin binned.

Oldham decided to scrum instead of kicking the penalty and the front row of Wardle, Jones and Sayle were rewarded with a penalty try to put Oldham back to 19-12 in front.

De La answered back pretty much straight away off an Oldham mistake from the kick off to equalise again at 19-19.

With around five minutes to go De La had the ball in the Oldham 22 and it was looking ominous for the home team.

However, a scrum penalty and then catch and drive led to the pivotal point of the game. 

Tom Davies took the ball inside his own half and kicked to the blind wing to hit the sweetest of 50-20 kicks to give Oldham the line out in the De La 22.

An Oldham drive then led to the ball coming to Davies again who sent the cross-field kick into the in goal area for it to be trapped by the De La winger and Corey Kelly on the Oldham wing.

Carter put the ball down to the joy of the Oldham players.

The unconverted try gave Oldham a 24-19 lead.

De La had one last foray into the Oldham half, but a leading elbow from a De La forward gave Oldham the penalty and with it being kicked off the pitch the referee blew his final whistle with Oldham taking the spoils.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.