Liverpool Collegiate have created a three-point gap over Oldham RFU with what could be a crucial 32-20 win over their relegation rivals.
Starting the day in ninth and tenth respectively, Collegiate now sit on 31 points and two places above the relegation zone, with Oldham still just one place above the drop in the Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire League.
It was Oldham who opened and closed the scoring but Collegiate dominated the 60 minutes in between. Alex Jobson received the ball at the side of the Oldham line out and powered through two Collegiate players to bundle the ball over. Jobson then converted to put the visitors into a 7-0 lead 18 minutes in.
Five minutes later and with their first visit to Oldham’s 22, the home side scored through Hugh Adams who collapsed over the line after breaking out of the maul.
Minutes later and another try – this time scored by Sam Darby and converted by Chris Lloyd – meant Collegiate were in the lead for the first time. Right under the posts, Darby was offloaded the ball and ran into the end zone to make the score 12-7.
A penalty for Oldham just before half time left the match very evenly poised at 12-10 going into the break.
Oldham managed to briefly regain the lead, albeit only for a few minutes, when Jobson scored another penalty shortly after the restart.
Collegiate then regained the lead through an excellent try in the right corner of the pitch. Oldham’s try line had been under sustained pressure for minutes before the home side switched the ball quickly out of a ruck right under the posts. Collected by Lloyd, the number 12 made a powerful diagonal dart to the corner to score.
Ed Hansell took advantage of an Oldham sin bin to extend the Merseyside teams lead to 27-13. Bundling over the line following a swift attack down the left, Hansell was on hand from a ruck to smartly receive the ball and finish with a flourish.
Lloyd would score another try with two minutes remaining before Oldham ended the match with a consolation try and conversion.
Creating some much needed daylight between the two teams, Collegiate were too strong for Oldham on the day.
