From the kick off, Town capitalised on a slip by young Foggy and the first score was on the board by Mossop. 4 – 0. Oldham compounded their poor start with a ball out of the full followed by another penalty for a flop.
Town were on the ball from the start and worked the ball towards the left flank. Lucas ran off his line, and what is usually a secure man and ball, clamping tackle saw Low slip past him and Town were two scores up and on the rampage. 8 – 0.
With 12 minutes gone and virtually no ball in hand, Oldham conceded yet two more penalties for high shots. Oldham tried to get their hands on the ball and get some momentum but fierce tackling by Town across the board forced Oldham into making numerous errors.
But following more enterprising play, Town chipped ahead. In my opinion the ball played the man, but it made no difference as the pattern for the day was superb support by the Workington team and Frazer was on the sheet, with an easy conversion to follow. Thankfully at that time it was wide and Town now 12 in front with 18 minutes gone. Oldham? Appeared to be “still on the bus!”
Following a scrappy Oldham set Whitty was held up just short of the line. But following stern Oldham defence, Lucas gathers following a kick on the 6th tackle. But it was one of those days when we either didn’t respect the ball or conditions and we failed to complete the set on the third tackle. During the dying minutes of the half, Valu was just short, Ben Wood just short and Ishy held up over the line. NO way were Town going to concede a try in the first half.
The second half started just like the first. Town hit Oldham with everything in the first set. Following great support play, Kaighan, attacked the line chipped ahead and gathered in very poor conditions. First conversion made it 18 – 0 and full value for their efforts.
Shell shocked, and from the re-start Oldham had nothing to combat the skill and aggressive running of the Town left flank as young Foggy found himself in a 2 on 1 situation and Town scored a great length of the field try by the impressive Frazer. Conversion to follow and the score is 24 – 0.
Oldham regains possession, but it was one of those days when everything that Town worked for came off and deservedly so. Brocky enters the line, Town up in force, ball passed into touch for the second time.
In a scrappy passage of play, penalties were exchanged by both sides. But Oldham appeared to be beginning to play rugby, and following a good break by Whitty, Ben Wood hit the gap and Oldham were on the score sheet. 24 – 6.
From the re-start Oldham attacked down the right flank. Another score and maybe game on? Ben Wood with a player inside him held onto the ball too long, and when he passed the ball he hit the Town man and 6 points went begging.
Town were soon down to 12 men as McDonald was sent to the changing rooms for what appeared to use of the elbow, following a previous warning in the first half. Ben Wood gave away a penalty for a high shot, 26 – 6. The Town rubbed salt in the wounds as they opted for a cheeky 1 pointer, great decision, ball back and more pressure on Oldham. But Oldham regained possession and worked their way down field, good work by Ishy and Cloughy scores to take the score to 27 – 12.
But more disaster to follow as solid defence by Town force an error on the Oldham 22 and Bainbridge gathers to take the score to 31 – 12.
Workington were great value for the win against an Oldham side that were slow to start, never gained any momentum and compounded their misery with lots of errors and penalties. It will be yet another tough season in which Swinton, Whitehaven, Keighley, and Workington will be staking a legitimate claim for the honours. A wake up call?
Fans behind us said that this was the best display they had a seen for many games and I can well believe on that showing.
Edited by TBozz, 22 March 2011 - 07:56 AM.
