Match Report: Oldham RUFC 27-27 Leigh RUFC

Oldham RUFC’s season came to a close on Saturday as mid table Leigh were the visitors. 

With injuries and suspensions there was an issue for the home side in the back line, which meant seven  changes from the previous week’s team.

Oldham started brightly making steady progress into the Leigh half before a chip through from Oldham gifted Leigh possession and they broke into Oldham’s half to score the first try of the afternoon to put them 7-0 up.

Oldham countered back pretty much straight away as Rob Froggatt playing at centre intercepted a kick to stroll in under the posts to answer back for the home team. He converted the try to make it 7-7.

Both teams were looking to get a foothold, and it was Oldham who made the next move on the scoreboard following a lineout catch and drive, Josh Semple crashed over to put Oldham up 12-7.

Oldham lost influential hooker Jack Taylor to a head knock with the evergreen Dean McEwan replacing him. 

Oldham were attempting to play as much as they could into the wind but lacked that little bit of finishing composure.

Oldham were enjoying the majority of possession and towards the last five minutes of the first half went over again following great work from Jordan McEwan forcing a turnover from a Leigh scrum. 

Oldham worked the ball on the blind side for standoff Owen Hewson to score in the corner to put Oldham 17-7 up. 

This would be the score going into half time.

Leigh started brightest in the second half and Oldham lost Brian Massey to a red card for a tip tackle after five minutes leaving Oldham to play the remainder of the game with 14 players. 

Leigh converted a penalty to make the score 17-10. Leigh now had their tails up and scored a converted try moments later to make the scores level at 17-17.

A Froggatt penalty put Oldham back in front 20-17 and the home side seemed to lift enjoying a decent time in the Leigh half however they could not turn the pressure into points. 

They conceded a penalty which Leigh decided to run from their own try line. They found space out wide to score a converted try to make the score 24-20 in Leigh’s favour.

Oldham to their credit answered back through a converted try from Stuart Brennan following a Froggatt surge and good interplay from Hewson. Oldham back in front at 27-24.

With time ticking away Oldham needed composure but a number of missed kicks to touch and poor decision making on the ball led to turnovers that were unnecessary. 

Leigh now having plenty of ball were awarded a penalty for a late shot off the ball and converted it to even the scores up once again at 27-27.

Oldham had one last foray into the Leigh 22 but could not make it count before the referee called time. 

A frustrating way to end the season with Oldham battling hard especially when down to 14 men but ultimately it sums the season up with it being a game they should have won.

Retiring players Jordan McEwan, Rhys Jones and Captain Nick Hackman were given a fitting send-off post-game with all three having played at the club since their junior years. 

Oldham finished the season in 11th position in Counties Lancashire and Cheshire division 2 with the likelihood of relegation and a season of re building to come.