Oldham U15 v Rossendale U15

Lancashire Challenge Round 6

From the outset this match was certainly going to be somewhat competitive as Oldham defeated Rossendale last season in the semi-final of the Lancashire Bowl. And it certainly was!
The match was played in fine conditions with Rossendale only bringing 14 players, the rules state that we have to play with 14 players and quite rightly so.
From the outset Oldham dominated the majority of play when the ball was being moved around the field, they dominated the scrum, the lineout and the open play. Where Rossendale did manage to get the upper hand was in the rucking, they had a large mobile, powerful pack who showed great power in the ruck, driving Oldham off the ball time after time.
Oldham, under the captaincy of Max Walsh quickly adapted to this by keeping the ball moving along the line and offloading early to save the ball going to ground. Following a great run and breaking through no fewer than four tackles Walsh scored a fine try, driving over the line with no fewer than three Rossendale players hanging on to him. The try went unconverted.
The following 13 minutes was pretty much dominated by Oldham with Rossendale only getting out of their own half on one occasion with a good break by Lewis Wright, the Rossendale fly half. Oldham tackled with ferocity and fly half Reece Longdin collected the ball just outside his own 22 metre line. True to Reece’s nickname ‘twinkle toes’ he skipped past four of the Rossendale players to find himself at the half way line and a clear run ahead of him for the try line, he put his head down and sprinted for the line hotly pursued by five Rossendale players who could not match his speed. Reece showed the opposition a clean set of heels and scored a superb try consuming at least 70 metres. The try was converted by Josh Fitzgerald.

On the brink of half time Rossendale gained possession of the ball and showed some great handling skills by passing the ball along the line with expertise and scored a beautiful try by Connor Bentley the Rossendale tight head prop, the try was converted by Alfie Summer the Rossendale scrum half.

Half time Score: Oldham U15s 12 v Rossendale U15s 7

Following a discussion at half time by the Oldham coaching staff Oldham went out with replenished vigour and following a handling mistake by Rossendale within 5 minutes Josh Fitzgerald collected the ball from 40 metres out and strolled over the try line, under the posts for a lovely uncontested try, a great start to the 2nd half, Josh converted his own try.
It was great to see that Oldham had listened to their coaching staff and the rucking was much improved with some great work by the forwards, in particular Marshall Yates who did the basics and did them very well with superb efficiency. Marshall cleared out the ruck on no fewer than 8 occasions making possession easy for the Oldham scrum half Jamie Queenan “Pea”. “Pea” was able to release the back line on several occasions and they were at ease with the ball in hand, bursting through tackle after tackle. It was at this point that Oldham decided to release the ‘big guns’ in the utilisation of DPP player and Lancashire trialist Joel Cunniffe. Joel, being one of the fastest prop forwards I have ever seen in 40 years of playing the game, gained possession and with the Rossendale defence deciding to try and stop him by tackling high which had little chance of success, Joel crashed over the try line for his first try of the match. This was converted, yet again by Josh Fitzgerald.
Rossendale, to their credit refused to ‘lie down’ and came straight back at Oldham scoring a well-executed try with a three man overlap. This was unconverted. Oldham really needed to sort out their tackling and cover play to prevent a repeat, this was still anyone’s game at 26-14 in Oldham’s favour.
Within 5 minutes I witnessed what can only be described as the finest try I have ever seen at junior rugby. Oldham had possession of the ball 15 metres from the Rossendale try line, Rossendale were tackling everything that moved and were ruthless in doing so. Josh Fitzgerald had the ball in hand with three men to the outside of him, he looked up and saw that Rossendale too had three men to match man for man our back line, no easy route through Josh thought. Josh then with immaculate accuracy hoisted the ball straight over the opposition back line into the goal area of Rossendale only for Ryan Clayton “Spider” to burst through and simply touch the ball down. The sort of try you would expect to see at international level. Fantastic creativity by Josh Fitzgerald and superb awareness by “Spider”. The try went unconverted.
Within 3 minutes from the ensuing kick-off Joel Cunniffe again had the ball in hand and head down with immense power he ran through at least 4 attempted tackles to score the try that really sealed the match in Oldham’s favour. This try went unconverted.
True to form Rossendale would not concede and came back within 4 minutes to score a try through a breakaway run, the try went unconverted.
Oldham were not done yet, they had further business to conduct. The ball was won from a scrum against the head and was passed again to Josh Fitzgerald who showed everyone on the field of play how to side step, he had most players and spectators seriously confused as to where he was going, I am pleased to say that he had complete control and knew exactly where he was going and how he was going to get there. He ran around 6 or 7 players to place the ball down for the final try of the day which he converted bringing the game to satisfactorily conclusion in Oldham’s favour.

Final Score: Oldham U15s 43 v Rossendale U15s 19

Oldham Man of the Match went to Marshall Yates