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[TBozz]

First opportunity to put summat on the website regarding yesterdays game.
Apologies for not knowing the names of all of the Skolars scorers.

Got off to poor start. Forced to drop out under posts. A gap opened up and Skolars 7 scored a superb try. 6 - 0.
Lots of 1 up rugby but Skolars chip the ball, Gilly, still ring rusty turns his back on the players and the ball bounces between himself and the touch, Adebesi gathers the ball at speed and scores behind the posts. 12 - 0.

Clough on, superb 40 - 20. McCully just short of the line, Pen. to Oldham, Ben Heaton short, Clough held up over the line, Ball is moved left, Bravo held up, Rats turns the ball to Sutty at close range, 12 - 6. Following a knock on by the Skolars, Rats makes one of his trade mark runs, gains territory. Ishy hits the ball and Valu on hand to score. 12 apiece.

Skolars bring on a prop replacemnet, I believe played on the wing sometime before, a real handful. He makes excellent yards down the middle. Full back on hand to receive the ball and again scores under posts. Skolars are giving Oldham a real lesson in enthusiastic support play and team play. 18 - 12. Following more pressure from the Skolars, Oldham concede a soft try from behind the ruck. Sam Gee an ex Orrell junior, good player, scooted under the posts and the score is 24 - 12.

In the second half, we couldn't get into the Skolars territory for at least 7 minutes. Pen to Skolars and Oldham's goal line defence is good, but they leak another try, 30 - 12 and we are looking down the barrels of a good hiding. Oldham concede a penalty on the first tackle and we put ourselves under even more pressure. Following a penalty for holding down, Oldham show promise through Ben Heaton, with two good runs, Rats sends out a great pass to Gilly who scores wide out on the right. Excellent conversion by Forber. 30 - 18.

We start to play basic rugby, 4 drives, get a penalty for a high shot. Valu and Boultsy combine and the ball is now down the RHs of the field. Brocky takes an inside ball, 30m out and it had score written all over it. 30 - 24. Robbo as usual made many of his customary runs, and ends up on halfway. Skolars have gone, or have they? Oldham get another penalty, not square. Brocky just short, Rats just short. Another penalty to Oldham and Sutty in from close range. 30 - 30. Did Oldham have the game by the throat? Following some enterprising play, Forber makes a rare attack at the line, dummies and is through. 30 - 34, conversion missed. Skolars get a penalty for Oldham offside, harsh considering that the Skolars had regularly been in front of the ref at the play the ball. Oldham defend their line and Gareth Honor powers over, 36 - 34. Skolars never gave up the chase.

Oldham had chances to score with a couple of two on one situations in front of the Skolars posts, and the players opted to run rather than pass.

On the day, the Skolars deserved their victory, through endeavour, enthusiasm, support play, and their desire to vary their attack, masterminded by their excellent half backs. Oldham's attack by comparison, was often lacking in imagination and to a marked extent lacked flowing movement through the half backs and outside backs. We played on a really good, wide pitch and did not get the opportunity to see Gilly or Robbo in the clear at full pace. The video early next week, will not make good viewing for some players. Is it time that we brought in Jamie Dallimore onto the bench on a regular basis to aid his professional development in the first team ranks. In Fordy's days, Fordy started the game, and the heir apparent, Neil Roden came on after 20 minutes, having watched the master in action?

Should we qualify for the play offs, we will face a number of daunting tasks as all of our games will be away. We need more desire, creativity and enthusiasm behind the pack if we are to have any chance of success in the later stages of the season.