Oldham RU close campaign with a draw
Oldham RUFC ended their season with a 27-27 draw against Leigh, in a match marked by injuries, suspensions, and a red card. Despite leading at halftime, Oldham struggled to maintain composure, especially after being reduced to 14 players, ultimately settling for a draw in a game they felt they should have won. The match also served as a farewell for retiring players Jordan McEwan, Rhys Jones, and Captain Nick Hackman.
Oldham RUFC’s season ended in dramatic fashion as they battled to a 27-27 draw against mid-table Leigh, finishing with 14 men after Brian Massey’s red card for a tip tackle five minutes into the second half.
The home side, forced to make seven changes due to injuries and suspensions, started brightly before Leigh struck first with a converted try. Rob Froggatt answered immediately for Oldham, intercepting a kick to stroll in under the posts and converting his own score to level at 7-7.
Josh Semple crashed over from a lineout catch and drive to put Oldham ahead 12-7, before Owen Hewson scored in the corner following Jordan McEwan’s forced turnover to extend the lead to 17-7 at halftime.
The second half saw Leigh fight back to level at 17-17, though a Froggatt penalty briefly restored Oldham’s lead at 20-17. Leigh then grabbed a 24-20 advantage before Stuart Brennan’s converted try, set up by Froggatt’s surge and Hewson’s interplay, put Oldham back in front at 27-24.
Poor decision-making and missed kicks to touch allowed Leigh to level through a late penalty, and despite one final push into the Leigh 22, Oldham couldn’t find the winning points.
The draw capped a frustrating season that saw Oldham finish 11th in Counties Lancashire and Cheshire Division 2, facing likely relegation and a rebuilding campaign ahead. Long-serving players Jordan McEwan, Rhys Jones and captain Nick Hackman, who have been with the club since their junior years, received emotional farewells in a post-game ceremony.
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