A beautiful morning and a pre-match breakfast meet at Holland Hall preparations for the cup match could not have been better. Oldham had inflicted a heavy defeat on Orrell at the start of the season so the team needed to deliver and be on top form. Perfect conditions at Winstanley College and a good crowd.

Orrell started brightly putting Oldham on the back foot from the start, good forward play enabled the backs to move the ball from right to left. 8 minutes on the clock, James Glover crossed over the Oldham line and Matt Stafford’s conversion took the home team into an earlier lead 7-0. With the restart just 3 minutes old, quick hands again from the backs allowed James Glover to score his 2nd try after good work from the forwards. Matt Stafford conversion Orrell took a commanding lead.

Oldham shell shocked from the two early try’s rallied briefly and pressure rewarded the visitors a penalty which was converted. This incursion into Orrell’s half spurred Oldham on and within minutes had scored again with a try and conversion pulling the score back to 14-10. The fightback was on! Orrell stemmed the Oldham fight back and a brilliant solo try from Glover allowed James to complete his hatrick on 28 minutes. Conversion missed took the score to 19-10.

The Orrell coaches decided time was right to rest forwards with Steve Rowe and Pete Harber making way for Andy Stott and Dave Wane. An inspirational interchange or just luck saw Dave Wane crash over the Oldham line on 33 minutes, try converted by Matt Stafford the score ended the first half Orrell 26 Oldham 10.

James Glover rested at half time and James Ratcliffe entered the game both teams exchanged penalties moved the score onto 29-13. Oldham rallied late on and indiscretion from Orrell (two yellow cards) allowed the visitors to score two further try’s reducing Orrell’s lead to just 9 points. A James Ratcliffe penalty and a matt Stafford drop goal extended the score to 35-20. On 80 minutes Oldham scored the last try of the game and the game ended Orrell 35 Oldham 25.

My MoM was James Glover.

The draw for the next round has taken place.

Semi Finals
Anselmians 2 vs Orrell 2
De la Sale 2 vs Eccles 2

Saturday, 16 March 2019