Oldham RLFC 30-10 Midlands Hurricanes
Betfred Championship Round Fourteen
By Tom Kiernan-Wilson
Despite the five-day turnaround and a bruising encounter in the capital, Mark Dunning’s men overcame the odds to record a notable 34-40 victory over Oldham in the Quarter Finals of the 1895 Cup last Friday. This game would therefore represent an element of deja vu for both sides, but this time two competition points were on offer for two sides in the top-half of the Championship.
The game would start far more slowly than last week’s clash, but it was clear from the kick-off that Oldham were committed to a fast line speed and to snuff out any hope of building momentum with the ball. This would pay off after nine minutes, as a wayward pass 20 metres from the Canes line would be pounced on, with the ball eventually finding Luke Forber who would score in the right corner (4-0). Drinkwater would miss the conversion.
The Canes would be reduced to three interchanges early on as – on the 14-minute mark – Captain Jon-Luke Kirby and Mikey Wood would clash heads in a tackle and Mikey would go off for a HIA that ultimately could not be performed, meaning he could not return to the field.
Just after the first quarter the Yeds would extend their lead as a high bomb was gathered by Luke Forber who would crash over and wriggle to get the ball down despite the best efforts of Todd Horner to hold him up (8-0). Drinkwater would once again miss the conversion.
The Canes first real threat came shortly after as Matty Chrimes would make a nice break taking the ball in, however he would lose the ball on the ground when brought down despite suspicions of a hand in the ruck. A few minutes later, the Canes would be punished for a ball steal and Brad Day would crash over from short range (12-0). Drinkwater would once again miss the conversion.
A couple of minutes later Oldham thought they were in for their fourth, but a heroic defensive combination of Cian Tyrer and Zach Jebson forced Forber to knock on. From the resulting set, Lewis Else would stump the Oldham defence with a nice chip that lead to a pile on just over the Yeds line, and in assessing the situation the referee deemed that Ryan Johnson had beaten everyone else to the ball (12-4). Sully Medforth’s conversion attempt out wide was dragged just right of the posts.
The second half would see Oldham once again take a dominant approach, and it would be the Yeds who looked to have scored in the corner through Jake Bibby but some solid Canes defending would force him into touch. Oldham were not to be perurbed, and some good grubber kicks on the last would force the Canes to concede back-to-back goal-line drop-outs.
12 minutes into the second half, the dam would eventually break as a penalty close to the line would give Oldham an opportunity to pull the Canes defence in before a long pass to Luke Forber would allow him to get his hat-trick (16-4). Despite arguably being his hardest conversion attempt of the evening, a good kick from Drinkwater would just squeeze through the posts (18-4).
Things would slow down for the next ten minutes or so as Oldham focused on slowing down play and preserving their lead. However, a determined Canes side would get close to the Yeds line and put Sully Medforth in space to sell the dummy and put the ball down behind the sticks (18-8) before converting his own effort (18-10).
With just eight points between the sides, the Canes would see a spring in their step. However it would be the home side that would strike to seal the game as a momentary lapse in concentration in defence allowed hooker Matty Wildie to cut through the line and pass to Jaron Purcell for an easy try under the sticks (22-10). Drinkwater would once again convert (24-10).
The last play of the game would see Oldham extend their lead further, as a pass down the left wing saw Forber race forward before a suspiciously “flat” pass found Matty Ashurst who slid over for the final say (28-10). Drinkwater would convert on the hooter (30-10).
Friday’s defeat would see Mark Dunning’s men see out the ninth of nine consecutive away fixtures, with our last home game coming against the Yeds on 1 March. With five wins and a draw to show for it – as well as a place in the 1895 Cup Semi-Final – the Canes can take real confidence as they have a week off before welcoming Whitehaven to Avery Fields on Saturday 6 June.
Man of the Match:
Brandon Moore (Sponsored by Lowry Recruitment)
Tries:
Johnson and Medforth
Cons:
Medforth (1/2)
