Sat 2 Apr 2022, 14:15
Eccles arrived at a sunny Manor Park knowing the importance of the clash with both teams struggling for wins in the bottom half of the ADM Premier Table.
Eccles started brightly wining possession and territory. Around 10 minutes in Oldham had a player (Hannon) yellow carded for a late block from a kick. Despite the extra man Eccles did not take advantage and Oldham were resolute in defence, succeeding in not conceding during the ten minutes of the sin bin. When full teams resumed Oldham secured the ball and Watson ran a good line to cut through the Eccles defence to score. Converted 7-0. Oldham were playing well but continued to give penalties away for indiscipline and complaining to the referee. From a 50-22 kick Oldham turned a scrum over and gained a penalty, from which they went quick to find Watson again who scored his second try. Converted. 14-0. Oldham switched off and from the restart Eccles were alert to the opportunity and sent through a kick from which Jimmy McGuigan re-gathered the ball and scored under the posts just before the break. HT 14-7
Oldham started the second half better. From a scrum on the Eccles 22, Oldham forward went blind side taking a number of Eccles defenders with him before passing inside ball to the Oldham Captain Taylor who went in for a Try, converted 21-7. Oldham indiscipline again saw a player knock the ball out of Eccles hands and the ref sent him to the bin. Once again, Eccles were unable to take advantage. From a scrum Eccles dropped the ball on the Oldham 22 and the hosts kicked the loose ball and Jobson beat the Eccles backline to gather the ball and run it in to score. Converted 28-7. Oldham were now back to 15 again. Eccles responded with a well executed lineout catch and drive on the left inside the 22, and with good hands across the park from Wright Candland and McGuigan and quick work from the Captain at the break down infront of the sticks former Colt Henry Tolbot-Dutton was released to score a try in the right corner on his 1XV senior debut. No conversion. 28-12. This was to be the last points for Eccles.
Oldham took a stranglehold on the remainder of the game. A high tackle on the Eccles 22 gave a penalty from which a quick tap lead to another Oldham try. 35-12. An Eccles scrum 10 yards from the line was turned over by Oldham for a penalty. Oldham decided to scrum themselves and the ball was fed to Watson on the blind side for his try hat trick in the corner. FT 40-12
