Sat 2 Mar 2019
West Park can count themselves unlucky to lose this important game which they could have
and should have won despite not always playing to their full potential , occasionally
lacking composure with ball in hand. The match was a rather stop start affair, refereed
somewhat uniquely by a visitor from Holland, whose interpretations were often questioned
by both sides.
Early possession and pressure from the home side was readily contained by the visitors, and
as they settled into the game Park took the lead as their forwards turned over the ball in midfield
to feed winger Littler, whose 50 metre break was finished off in style by supporting centre Green,
the try being unconverted. The visitors added to their score with a converted penalty from Holland,
and shortly afterwards were awarded another penalty which the referee subsequently reversed,
giving a puzzled flanker Cozens a yellow card.
Oldham took the initiative with the extra man, and a drive from their forwards , though halted before
the visitors try line, saw the referee award a penalty try, leaving the half time score just one point in
favour of the visitors.
The conditions worsened considerably in the second half, the home side taking full advantage of
a strengthening wind to try and pen Park in their own 22 area, but in particular Pape , Littler and Holland
returned the ball well to contain the pressure . The visitors were denied another try for an adjudged
double movement in crossing the line by Basley, but added to their score with a successful penalty
by Holland to give them a 4 point margin.
The home side were obviously rattled , and gave away 3 in-field penalties in quick succession, but in a
game which at no time was ever overly robust, Park’s hooker Sterry was shown a red card for an alleged
slap of an opponent. Oldham closed out the game with two additional successful penalties to take points
from the visitors denting their top of table league position.
With no game next week, Park’s next match sees them travel to Heaton Moor in two weeks time for an
increasingly important re-arranged fixture, kick off 3pm.
and should have won despite not always playing to their full potential , occasionally
lacking composure with ball in hand. The match was a rather stop start affair, refereed
somewhat uniquely by a visitor from Holland, whose interpretations were often questioned
by both sides.
Early possession and pressure from the home side was readily contained by the visitors, and
as they settled into the game Park took the lead as their forwards turned over the ball in midfield
to feed winger Littler, whose 50 metre break was finished off in style by supporting centre Green,
the try being unconverted. The visitors added to their score with a converted penalty from Holland,
and shortly afterwards were awarded another penalty which the referee subsequently reversed,
giving a puzzled flanker Cozens a yellow card.
Oldham took the initiative with the extra man, and a drive from their forwards , though halted before
the visitors try line, saw the referee award a penalty try, leaving the half time score just one point in
favour of the visitors.
The conditions worsened considerably in the second half, the home side taking full advantage of
a strengthening wind to try and pen Park in their own 22 area, but in particular Pape , Littler and Holland
returned the ball well to contain the pressure . The visitors were denied another try for an adjudged
double movement in crossing the line by Basley, but added to their score with a successful penalty
by Holland to give them a 4 point margin.
The home side were obviously rattled , and gave away 3 in-field penalties in quick succession, but in a
game which at no time was ever overly robust, Park’s hooker Sterry was shown a red card for an alleged
slap of an opponent. Oldham closed out the game with two additional successful penalties to take points
from the visitors denting their top of table league position.
With no game next week, Park’s next match sees them travel to Heaton Moor in two weeks time for an
increasingly important re-arranged fixture, kick off 3pm.
