Match Report: Clitheroe 25-40 Oldham RUFC

Oldham travelled to Clitheroe for Saturday's fixture having had mixed form the previous two weeks against the top two teams in the league.

Oldham welcomed back Sean Carter to the starting side being extra pace and guile to the back row.

Oldham as often this season got off to a slow start and were guilty of not retaining ball and allowing the home side to take the initiative early on. Clitheroe to their credit carried hard and direct and Oldham’s defence was slightly poor. Following early pressure Clitheroe took the lead with a try and then Oldham were guilty of some poor decision making and gave away a penalty which Clitheroe ran quickly to bring them a second try to take them 10-0 up after 15 minutes. Oldham initially struggled to keep hold of the ball with some aimless kicking from their own 22 inviting pressure.

Oldham finally got on the board following good pressure on the home side’s line at scrum time with Paul Wardle and Reuben Moss turning the screw. Following some good carries from the Oldham Pack, Alex Jobson got his account open with a penalty to make it 10-3.

Oldham now were starting to have the better of territory and possession and following good carries from Simon Renshaw and Jobson, Phil Conroy went over in the corner as Oldham further ate into the home sides early lead.

Oldham then went in front moments later as a long clearance from Jobson lead to defensive pressure as Jordan McEwan rushed the line and intercepted a pass tipping it in the air to himself and then as he took hold threw an audacious no look overhead pass to Jobson who sprinted in untouched from the 10 metre line to score and then convert it to take Oldham to 15-10 in front.

Oldham were not done there and from the kick off Tom Jowle caught the restart on his own 10 metre line and then made a break beating roughly 6 or 7 defenders before being finally hauled down in the home sides 22 area. Some quick hands followed as McEwan fired a delightful miss pass to find Reece Blakeley who dotted down and with Jobson again converting the away side now lead 22-10 at half time.

Clitheroe came out in the second half as they did in the first and took the game back to Oldham and again were first on the scoresheet with a try to bring them back to 22-15 down and the game was now in a critical period. Oldham then lost a player to the sin bin for a high tackle and it looked ominous for the visitors however they defended brilliantly on their own line keeping Clitheroe out on numerous occasions until finally winning a turnover penalty.

Oldham then capitalised on a huge 50-22 from Jobson which resulted in a lineout and when the ball reached the backline McEwan hit skipper Tom Davies who straightened the line to hit McEwan on a run around to feed full back Louis Fitton who scored. 27-15 now to Oldham.

From the kick off it was then Fitton’s turn to hit a 50-22 and then Oldham pressured the Clitheroe defence with great carries from Jowle and Carter to catch the defence offside. Jobson did the honours and added another 3 points to the Oldham account.

Oldham were on top and a further try came following a clearance by Clitheroe with the ever reliable Isaac Dobbs catching the ball to set up a ruck and then Josh Semple who carried all day and relishing his new role at hooker set up good quick ball for Fitton to make a break and then fed Jobson to score another converted try. Oldham were now 37-15 up with ten minutes left.

With the visitors beginning to flag some penalties crept into Oldham’s game allowing Clitheroe to make inroad and eventually scoring again bringing it back to 37-20.

With Oldham tiring they lost another player to the sin bin for consecutive offside penalties however from the kick off from the Clitheroe try Oldham

Managed a turnover and Jobson sat back in the pocket showing great game management hitting a superb drop goal from the 10 metre line to take Oldham up to 40 points.

Clitheroe did not fold and continued to play and were awarded with a try on the last play of the game to make the finishing score line 40-25 in Oldham’s favour to give them a much needed 5 point bonus point win.

A good performance for Oldham on the road with great performances from Semple, Carter, Jowle and Dobbs up front. McEwan and Davies were outstanding in the backline but with a haul of 25 points and being very close to being at his best Alex Jobson was awarded Man of the match.

A big local derby with Ashton under Lyne visiting Manor Park this coming Saturday when it is the Club’s Annual Reunion. A big crowd is expected as Ashton are one point in front of Oldham in 4th place but with a match in hand..