Bennies look set for drop
Last updated 17:39, Thursday, 20 March 2008
RUGBY UNION: North Lancs Cumbria League. St Benedict's 18, Oldham 29
ST BENEDICT’S were beaten 29-18 in a vital North Lancs Cumbria game by Oldham – a game involving two teams fighting to avoid the drop.
The game started well enough for Bennies as they were in control during the early stages and Ryan Fisher kicked two penalties.
But Oldham came back with a penalty of their own and then Saints lost the ball in their own 22 which saw the visitors break to score an unconverted try.
Trailing 6-8, Saints were in more trouble when Craig Fisher was sin-binned for a trip and during his absence Oldham increased their lead with a converted try.
The home side showed a lot of spirit with their 14 men and, in the closing stages of the half, they reduced the arrears.
Lee Wood took good line-out ball and the forwards drove over for Sean Doran to grab the touchdown.
But the fates were conspiring against the home side as at half-time they lost young winger Carl Hiddlestone with concussion and soon after he returned to the game, Craig Fisher also took a knock on the head and had to retire.
Wood went off with a knee injury and 10 minutes from the end Ian McQuire was forced to the blood bin with a burst nose, but was never going to come back because of knee ligament damage.
By that time, Oldham had pulled away to lead 29-11 with two converted tries, one of them from another turn-over ball when they went in from half-way.
Saints staged a stirring finale and were on top. It was no more than he deserved when man-of-the-match Jamie Jardine thundered 20 yards to score a try which Ryan Fisher converted.
But for all their late pressure they weren’t able to get over again and Oldham held on for a vital win.
