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Slow start leaves Midlands Hurricanes with too much to do as winning run comes to an end

It was a tough day at the office for Midlands Hurricanes as their winning run in the league came to a halt in the face of a slow start.

By James Vukmirovic
Published

The Hurricanes had won their last three league games, but were left playing catch-up against a very good Oldham team after conceding five tries in the opening 30 minutes of their Championship clash at Avery Fields.

The Hurricanes supporters kept up the noise throughout the game. Photo: Andy Shaw
The Hurricanes supporters kept up the noise throughout the game. Photo: Andy Shaw

A mixture of missed tackles and some clever passing play saw Kieran Dixon go over twice in the corner, while Matty Ashurst got the first of his two for the day and both Owen Farnworth and Morgan Smith went under the posts to leave Oldham 26-0 up.

It was a tough game, with Ryan Johnson among those showing the scars of battle. Photo: Andy Shaw
It was a tough game, with Ryan Johnson among those showing the scars of battle. Photo: Andy Shaw

In past seasons, the score might have kept going up, but the Hurricanes were able to regroup, increase the intensity in defence and, after Tom Wilkinson was just held up on the last tackle, Lewis Else danced through to get the home side on the scoresheet.

Tyler Dickinson put in another busy shift in defence. Photo: Andy Shaw
Tyler Dickinson put in another busy shift in defence. Photo: Andy Shaw

Down 26-6 at half-time, head coach Mark Dunning’s team talk must have had an effect as the Hurricanes came out stronger in the second half, reducing the deficit to 26-14 when Luis Roberts managed to touch down in the right corner, before Ryan Johnson, who was celebrating his 50th game for the club, scored in the left corner.

Oldham are a traditional heartlands team and put in a professional performance. Photo: Andy Shaw
Oldham are a traditional heartlands team and put in a professional performance. Photo: Andy Shaw

However, any hopes of a comeback win were dashed when Ashurst scored his second try, then Tom Nisbet scored in the corner to increase the lead and while Todd Horner scored a try from a clever kick by Sully Medforth to give the Hurricanes another score, Ben Davies bypassed a tiring defence to finish the game off and give Oldham a 40-20 win.

The Hurricanes showed spirit and inventiveness in attack. Photo: Andy Shaw
The Hurricanes showed spirit and inventiveness in attack. Photo: Andy Shaw

Despite a second defeat of the season, the Hurricanes spirit remained high throughout the game and gave head coach Mark Dunning plenty of encouragement ahead of a tough away trip on March 8 into west Cumbria to face Whitehaven.

Ryan Johnson's try on his 50th appearance for the club was a rare highlight. Photo: Andy Shaw
Ryan Johnson's try on his 50th appearance for the club was a rare highlight. Photo: Andy Shaw

Midlands Hurricanes

1 Todd Horner

2 Matty Chrimes

3 Ryan Johnson

5 Luis Roberts

23 Aidan McGowan

19 Sully Medforth

7 Lewis Else

8 Jon Luke Kirby

14 Brandon Moore

10 Tyler Dickinson

11 Tom Wilkinson

12 Oliver Roberts

13 Mikey Wood

Subs (all used)

9 Aiden Roden

16 Zeus Silk

26 Ethan Newboult

28 Isaac Shaw

Tries: Else (37), Roberts (45), Johnson (48), Horner (70)

Goals: Else 2/4

Oldham

7 Riley Dean

2 Kieran Dixon

21 Tom Nisbet

4 Ben Davies

5 Jake Bibby

6 Morgan Smith

23 Josh Drinkwater

8 Jack Ormondroyd

9 Matty Wildie

10 Owen Farnworth

11 Matty Ashurst

18 Jaron Purcell

19 Harvey Makin

Subs (all used)

13 Adam Milner

14 Cole Geyer

15 Ted Chapelhow

16 Ewan Moore

Tries: Dixon (3, 9), Ashurst (16, 54), Farnworth (22), Smith (26), Nisbet (60), Davies (73)

Goals: Dixon 4/8