Oldham back to winning ways

After a lacklustre performance against local rivals Ashton in last week’s fixture, Oldham RUFC were eager to return to winning ways against high-flying Orrell.

Oldham had already beaten Orrell in the cup earlier in the season, but the visitors arrived at Manor Park in strong league form, helped in no small part by the introduction of player-coach and former England international Denny Solomona.

Once again forced into changes due to injury, Oldham were nevertheless boosted by the return of Robert Froggatt and Rueben Moss to the match day squad.

The message from head coach Jim Forster was loud and clear: Oldham could not afford to allow their opposition an early foothold in the game, and a fast start was essential. That is exactly what followed. Straight from the kick-off, quick-thinking fly-half Alex Jobson spotted space behind the Orrell defensive line. A deft poke ahead on the 10-metre line caught the visitors off guard, allowing Jobson to regather his own kick. Slick handling through the backs then sent winger Ryan Lord over in the corner for one of the quickest tries seen at Manor Park this season. Jobson narrowly missed the conversion, leaving the score at Oldham 5–0 Orrell.

Oldham could not have wished for a better start and immediately built confidence from the restart. Strong carries from forwards Josh Semple, Luke Ferrier, Tom Jowle and Sean Carter punched holes in the Orrell defence, while further sharp handling in the backs, orchestrated by Lewis Ward and Jordan McEwan, kept the visitors on the back foot. The early pressure proved too much for Orrell, who conceded two identical penalties for not rolling away at the ruck. Both were from around 40 metres out and well within Jobson’s range, and the fly-half made no mistake with either to extend Oldham’s lead. Oldham 11–0 Orrell.

After the disappointment of the previous week, this was exactly the response Forster and assistant coach Jack Sayle would have hoped for. The pressure continued as further strong carries from Greg Higgins, Ferrier and Owen Hewson put Oldham in another commanding position. With McEwan directing runners Marshall Yates and Semple, Oldham camped deep inside the Orrell 22. Once again the visitors buckled under sustained pressure and conceded another penalty, which Jobson calmly slotted to push the score out to 14–0.

It was shaping up to be a long afternoon for the away side, who desperately needed to establish some momentum. From the restart Oldham kicked long, and Orrell chose to retain possession and build phases. Despite holding the ball, the relentless Oldham defence — led by Paul Wardle, Semple, Higgins and Carter — drove the visitors backwards at every contact, forcing them back some 30 metres. Eventually an error was forced and Oldham regained possession. It was not long before they were again threatening the Orrell line. With the forwards laying a solid platform, McEwan identified an overlap and demanded the ball. Quick hands through Hewson, Jobson and Cameron Robinson released Lord, who crossed unopposed for his second try of the afternoon. Jobson added the conversion to make it Oldham 21–0 Orrell.

Solomona and the Orrell coaching staff were visibly unhappy, and whatever was said after the try clearly sparked a response. From the restart, Ward returned the kick long but was unable to find touch. A powerful run from the Orrell centre, shrugging off would-be tacklers, finally ended with Semple bringing him to ground. The run injected belief into the visitors, who began playing with greater tempo and intent. Phases were built and questions asked of the Oldham defence, which initially held firm. Eventually, however, sustained pressure told and Oldham were penalised for being offside.

Orrell opted to tap and go, but they had not accounted for the alertness of back-rower Carter, who flew up in defence to force an error in the tackle. Oldham’s scrum had been dominant all afternoon and the resulting set-piece was no different, thanks to the solid front row of Rhys Jones, Wardle and Yates. A stable base allowed Oldham to clear their lines, but a misplaced kick handed Orrell another attacking opportunity inside the home half. This time, quick ruck speed and direct running brought Orrell to within striking distance, and Oldham were penalised for a high tackle. A swift tap from the scrum-half caught the defence napping, and he dummied and stepped back inside to score a deserved try. The conversion was successful, bringing the half-time score to Oldham 21–7 Orrell.

Oldham could be pleased with their first-half performance, but the half-time message from the coaching staff was clear: keep applying pressure and eliminate the unnecessary penalties that had allowed Orrell back into the contest. Changes at the break saw Ferrier, Jones and Cameron Robinson replaced by Froggatt, Moss and Adam Robinson respectively.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with Oldham enjoying the majority of possession and carrying with purpose. Orrell, however, emerged with renewed confidence following their late first-half score and looked to use their pace out wide. The Oldham back three of Lord, Robinson and Jobson defended intelligently, drifting well to shut down any early threats.

With little joy on the edges, Orrell turned their attention to the middle of the park, but the Oldham defence again stood firm. As pressure built, Oldham needed a release and it came courtesy of veteran Froggatt, who produced a moment of pure class. Turning over an isolated attacker, he stepped back and executed a superb 50:22 kick. Unfortunately, Oldham were unable to capitalise from the resulting line-out, allowing Orrell to relieve some pressure.

Soon after, Hewson produced another excellent turnover at the ruck, and McEwan reacted sharply with an inch-perfect box kick. Ward chased hard, putting the Orrell full-back under immediate pressure and forcing an error. Supporting winger Adam Robinson gathered the loose ball to score in the corner. Jobson added the conversion from out wide to extend the lead. Oldham 28–7 Orrell.

The game appeared to be slipping away from the visitors, but Orrell responded with a moment of quality. A superb break from the full-back split the Oldham defence before a sublime inside pass sent a supporting runner under the posts. The conversion was added, reducing the deficit to 28–14 and giving Orrell renewed hope.

With momentum shifting, Oldham knew they needed to regain control. Strong carries from Yates, Froggatt and Semple pinned Orrell deep inside their own 22 and once again forced a penalty. Searching for the four-try bonus point, Oldham kicked to the corner. A powerful driving maul rumbled forward before Jowle peeled off the back to crash over and secure the bonus point. Jobson converted from wide out to make it Oldham 35–14 Orrell.

Complacency briefly crept in once more, however, as Orrell moved the ball quickly to the right wing. The winger’s pace and footwork saw him carve through the Oldham defence from just inside his own half to score under the posts. The conversion narrowed the gap to 35–21.

With the score line suddenly within two converted tries and time still on the clock, Oldham found themselves under sustained pressure. Orrell thought they had crossed again when their number eight broke through and kicked ahead to score, but in a controversial decision the referee ruled a knock-on in the build-up, much to the relief of the home support. Oldham again dominated the resulting scrum, allowing Jobson to clear his lines and ease the pressure.

Reasserting themselves, Oldham delivered a series of heavy defensive hits through Higgins, Yates and Carter, forcing Orrell back into their own half. Eventually the pressure told, and a handling error presented Oldham with possession. From the ensuing phase, McEwan sat deep in the pocket and called for the ball. From 45 metres out, he struck a sweetly timed drop goal that sailed between the posts. Oldham 38–21 Orrell.

Credit must go to Orrell, who refused to fold and continued to play with ambition. Their persistence was rewarded with another try, securing a four-try bonus point of their own, with the conversion once again added to keep the kicker’s perfect record intact. Oldham 38–28 Orrell.

Oldham had the final say. Strong carries from Semple, Jones, Froggatt and Jowle forced Orrell into conceding a penalty for not rolling away. Ever-reliable Jobson stepped up and knocked it over to round off a deserved home victory.

It was a much-needed win following the previous weekend’s disappointment and one that sends Oldham into the Christmas break full of confidence, having maintained their unbeaten home record.

Man of the Match was awarded to Sean Carter for a tireless performance in both attack and defence.