Littleborough RUFC Thirds 26 - 10 Oldham Thirds

Ben Irving, Littleborough Rugby Union Club

Littleborough produced a controlled vintage display to take all four points against Oldham in the first of two clashes this week between the third teams of the respective clubs.

Both teams met at Rakewood determined to take important points for the end of season tally and take momentum going into the reverse fixture at Oldham on Wednesday evening.

It was Oldham who drew first blood just a couple of minutes in this game with a clean penalty from 30 metres right in front of the posts after Littleborough had infringed at the breakdown.

This sparked Littleborough back into life and they responded by bulldozing their way to the Oldham five metre line before Jonathan Land squirmed over in the right hand corner, having decided to pick and go once more down the blindside. Anthony Bamford slotted the ball through the posts to add the extra.

Littleborough were controlling the possession in large spells and they were rewarded for their dominance with their second try of the afternoon. Peter Fletcher put the final touch on a good attacking phase of possession. Bamford could not replicate his earlier kicking prowess as his effort drifted wide of the left hand post.

Fletcher was on a hot streak and should have had another try to his name in the second half, only for the referee to deem he was out of play when he put the ball down over the line.

It did not have a big effect on the final result of the game as Littleborough score again to take the game away from Oldham.

The ball was worked left to right before coming back in the opposite direction through the hands to fullback Sean McKenna who dummied the winger and strolled round to dot down under the posts. One of Littleborough's best tries of the season by far, where they showed great handling and control in possession and added that onto some individual class.

Oldham could not live with the rampant Boro attacking game which was perfectly demonstrated with the final try. Flanker Jason Clegg smashed through the Oldham defence picking off anyone who tried to tackle him. Bamford maintained a high 75% kicking percentage with the third successful conversion of the afternoon.

Oldham were desperate to get something from the game and capitalised on a Boro side who had taken their foot of the gas by camping in their hosts 22 for the rest of the match. First they nearly scored from close range, only for Simon Hoyle to hold up the attacker impressively over the line when he was destined to score.

Eventually Oldham broke through the resilient Boro defence as the number six scored a simple try. It was some reward for a hard working Oldham side and will give them hope that if they can repeat the last 20 minutes on Wednesday that they won't be far from a positive result.