Heaton Moor 35 - 3 Oldham

OLDHAM RU first team deserved a better fate than a 35-3 defeat at Heaton Moor.

They were forced into changes with Rob Fryer, Nick Duncan, Ross Cooper, Joe Hesse, Will Mellor, Matt Brogan and Jake Watson unavailable.

Paddy Farnan was drafted in from the Vets and, from the A team, forwards Alan Pierre and Chris McKenzie and backs Mike Douthwaite and Jordan Green.

Despite the disruption it was Oldham who started brightly, the pack dominating the opening 20 minutes in the scrum and lineout and working aggressively in the rucks and mauls.

With a good supply of ball, the backs produced some flowing attacking play, but solid defensive work from the home side kept Oldham at bay apart from a 14th-minute penalty from Mark Goodman.

Disaster struck seven minutes later when Oldham fell behind.

Gareth Barber launched an attack from his own try line and Goodman, Andy Gorey and Kyle Howard took play deep into opposition territory only for Heaton Moor to force a turnover from which winger Ivan Smetser raced away to score in the corner.

Sean Stirrup increased the lead with a penalty before adding the conversion to a length-of-the-field try from Philip De Souza as Moor established a 15-3 interval lead.

Oldham ran the ball at every opportunity in the second half but Moor are a well-drilled side, with three Brazilians who are on the verge of international honours all posing as threat.

Although Oldham had several half-chances, their mistakes were punished as Moor ran in three more tries, adding a conversion and a penalty.