Defence is key to the U14s’ win

Oldham SA U14 6

HFH U14 10 HALTON Farnworth Hornets U14s’ season started early in the preliminary round of the BARLA National Cup with a very wet and cold trip to Oldham St Anne’s.

Conditions made it difficult for both teams to play any kind of expansive rugby and the opening exchanges were littered with handling errors and the ball spilling out of the tackles.

Oldham managed to build some decent field position and grew in confidence as the half progressed with a series of attacks down the right hand side that were only stopped by some solid defending from Alex Fone.

The Hornets struggled to build any pressure despite some strong running from Reece Sumner, Gabe Mault and Matthew Doyle.

After defending three sets on the line, an Oldham prop-forward forced his way over for a converted try and the hosts took a 6-0 lead into half-time.

The Hornets started the second half with some real purpose and looked to get back in the game.

Sam Craig found Alex Sutton with a great pass to send him through a gap in the Oldham defence to score from long range. Owen Blackwood added the extras to make it 6-6.

This settled the Hornets’ nerves and they began to complete sets and pin the opposition in their own half.

After a couple of missed opportunities at the line, the Hornets began to build more pressure.

Good work from Matthew Chandler and Will Gilhooley helped put Adam Bamber in at the corner for an unconverted four-pointer to give the Hornets a 10-6 lead.

The Hornets had a couple more chances to extend their lead but the Oldham defence scrambled well to hold them out.

The last few minutes saw the Hornets defend numerous sets on their own line with Daniel Kershaw, Alex Davies and Daniel Woodward working hard to keep Oldham out and see the Hornets in to the next round and a home tie with Wigan St Cuthbert’s.