Boro lose out in kicking stakes
LITTLEBOROUGH matched neighbours Oldham by scoring four tries in Saturday’s derby clash – but the contest was decided by the home side’s conversion superiority.
Oldham converted three of their scores and a penalty, while Boro converted two, which made the five points difference.
Oldham were quick out of the starting blocks and straight on the attack with their forwards, but Boro hit back, first with their theequarters then with second row Ben Irving taking them into the opponent’s 25-metre zone.
It swung from attack to defence for both teams during the opening exchanges of the game with the host team enjoying the majority of the ball but Boro showing great defence.
The first score came when the referee awarded Oldham a penalty after 10 minutes which they succeeded in converting.
Boro hit back in the opposing 25metres area and they themselves were awarded a penalty which was unfortunately missed.
Stand out tackling by Boro scrum half Chris Park kept Oldham at bay until they attacked down
their right flank and scored the game’s first try, which they converted to extend their lead.
With momentum building, Oldham attacked again with player after player up with the ball carrier and passing the ball from man to man to achieve their second converted try and further extend their lead by 17 points.
This prompted Boro to raise their game once more and their forwards took the game to host 25 metres where hooker Matthew Goldthorpe darted over the line to give the visitors their first points, though the conversion was missed.
Again the match swung from one side to the other, mainly with too many out of hand kicking of the ball by both teams.
Boro eventually found themselves back on attack in the home side’s half of the field, with winger
David Kearns causing Oldham problems. However, their attempt to build a head of steam was thwarted for a number of minutes due to a player having medical attention.
It took Chris Park to showcase his rugby skills and cut through the host defence and touch down under the posts for Boro’s second try, converted by George Roberts.
This was followed shortly after with a good run down the outside by Goldthorpe, Boro going in at the break five points behind at 17-12.
Shortly after start of the second half, Boro’s Jacob Castree had to leave the field of play due to a
leg injury, bringing on reserve Jack Wilson.
Weather conditions grew colder and the ball was often dropped in passing moments.
Back came Oldham with good wing play taking possession into Boro’s 10 metres, then almost 20 minutes into the home side again crossed the tryline for their third converted effort to stretch their lead.
Oldham started to take control with further pressure applied to Boro’s tryline with their forwards in the five metre area, but they were met with great defensive work from the visiting pack. Unfortunately, Boro were being pushed backwards and their newest young forward, Matthew McCormick, had to be substituted.
Again using their wingers, the home team crossed Boro’s tryline for the fourth time but this time no conversion.
Good tackling from Goldthorpe and Dominic Kershaw, who had just replaced Nathan Coop, inspired Boro to go again and all of a sudden they broke forward with Goldthorpe racing up the right wing to collect his second try, Boro’s third, but no conversion.
Shortly after that score, Goldthorpe was flying up the right wing again to collect his third try of the day, the fourth for Boro. This time the conversion was made, making the overall points difference only five points.
Just like the first half , the host team scored their points early on but Boro took command of the second part of the half to nearly win the day.
Boro are a good team but unfortunately they constantly had to play catch up and in future they need to stamp their authority on the game from the beginning.
For all of his rugby skills and his adaption to his new playing position of scrum half , the man of the match award went to Chris Park, who was well supported by try scorer Matthew Goldthorpe and forwards Stuart Bairstow and Ben Irving.