Trafford MV 15 Oldham 19

TRAFFORD MV hosted Oldham in a North Lancs Div One game sponsored by Former Players Association member Nigel Lord.

The visitors brought at big side and opened the game looking very useful. Winning a steady flow of forward ball the visitors played an expansive style spinning the ball wide and throwing frequent miss passes to get the ball quickly into open spaces.

This brought an early score near the posts which was converted for a 0-7 lead. It was not long before the same expansive play brought a break down the left wing for another score to go 0-12 ahead. MV looked in trouble but dogged harassment forced errors which gave MV the opportunity to claw their way back into the game.

Although Oldham always looked a threat MV slowly began to win more ball and the steady boot of outside centre Ben Wheeler brought MV back into the game with 4 penalties levelling the score at half time on 12-12.

MV were not threatening and suffered a set back when full back Matt Coxon dislocated an elbow in a tackle and had to leave the field. MV re-organised and the sides seemed to have the measure of each other.

MV sneaked into the lead with yet another Wheeler penalty however the euphoria was short lived as the return kick okk saw MV fail to collect the ball and Oldham to pick up and break through almost untouched to regain the lead and finalise the score at 15-19.

This was an unimpressive performance from MV and much more structure and forward momentum needs to be put into their game if they are to prove a threat to the teams above them.

This weekend MV travel to Merseyside to face St Edwards Old Boys and they will be looking for an improved effort and maybe to some of their early season injury list to clear up.