Oldham Rugby Union - MINIs and Juniors

19/02/2026

Lancashire Cup Game at Home Vs Warrington U13s

Oldham U13s 20 – 25 Warrington U13s

A Last-Minute Thriller

Match Report by AJ
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A Tale of Two Halves

Oldham entered this fixture riding a wave of recent success, but they knew the scale of the challenge ahead. Facing a 3rd-ranked Warrington side while sitting 8th—and with an empty substitutes' bench—Oldham had to rely purely on grit and belief.

The game exploded into life from the opening whistle, but not in the way Oldham had hoped. Within two minutes, the defensive line was breached, and Warrington struck with clinical speed. Just ten minutes later, they crossed again to make it 2-0. To make matters worse, Oldham were reduced to one man down due to an injury, leaving them isolated and under siege.

The Fightback Begins

Despite the odds, Oldham refused to buckle. The forwards fired up, with Michael putting in a massive shift, bumping off defenders and eating up yards. While some rucks lacked urgency, leading to cheap turnovers, the momentum eventually shifted.

Just two minutes before the break, a well-drilled pod formed inches from the line. Yuhas fired a pass to Michael, who powered through the Warrington defense to get Oldham on the board.

• Halftime Score: Warrington leads 10-5.
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The Second-Half Surge

The restart brought relentless intensity. Jack, Jimmy, and Ethan punched holes in the defense with powerful carries, while Jenson anchored the defense with bone-rattling tackles. At the breakdown, Joe was a constant menace, jackalling and disrupting Warrington’s flow.

However, Warrington found a second gear, scoring two quick-fire tries in the 15th and 17th minutes. At 20-5 with only eight minutes remaining, the game looked over—but Oldham were just getting started.

• 19th Minute: Ethan bursts through the line to score. (20-10)

• 22nd Minute: After a penetrating run from Cooper, Yuhas finds Ethan, who sends a "Hail Mary" pass to a wide-open Mason to finish in the corner. (20-15)

• 24th Minute: From a five-meter scrum, Yuhas seizes the moment, picking from the base to level the score. (20-20)

A "Cinema" Finish

With the clock in the red, Oldham went for the win. Yuhas gathered the ball from the 70m line and tore down the field. Just ten meters from glory, a desperate ankle tap from the Warrington winger knocked him off balance. He managed to offload to Jimmy, but with the support players exhausted, the ball was turned over.

In a heartbreaking final twist, Warrington’s "big lad" broke through the depleted defensive line to sn**ch the victory with the very last play of the game.
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Standout Performers

Though the result was a sting, the performance proved that Oldham can go toe-to-toe with the league's elite.

Back of the Day - Cooper - A rock at fullback. Hit hard, supported everywhere, and made vital yards.

Forward of the Day - Ethan Lee - Sensible decision-making, powerful drives, and instrumental in the comeback.

Final Word: Yuhas once again showed his class, dictating the tempo and pulling Oldham level when it mattered most. It was a performance full of hunger and heart. We move on to the next one!

17/02/2026

16/02/2026

Lovely day for a coaching camp.
Bit wet in the morning but after a vigorous dancing lunch time warm up, the suns come out and everyone seems to be having fun

13/02/2026

Lancashire Cup Game at Home Vs Eccles U13s

Controlled and Convincing

Match Report by AJ

After last week’s strong performance at West Park, the lads came into Sunday’s Lancs Cup clash full of confidence and hunger. We’ve been searching for that breakthrough win in this competition, and you could sense from the first whistle that the boys were ready. Good numbers, a couple of subs on the bench, and despite a late change at 10, the mood was positive and focused.
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Bright Start, Early Intent

Oldham started fast — strong carries, quick ball from the ruck, and good width in attack. We looked sharp.

Five minutes in, Yuhas made the first mark on the game. Picking up from the base, shaping left and cutting back against the blind side, he powered over for the opening try. A proper number 9’s try — sharp thinking, sharp feet. 1–0 Oldham.

Eccles responded well and levelled things in the 14th minute after applying pressure through their forwards. Our scrum was tested more this week, and at times we were on the back foot. But the lads held their ground.

At 26 minutes, from a scrum platform, Lucas stepped up at fly-half, linked neatly with Jack, and crossed for our second. A well-worked move. 2–1 Oldham.

But again, we switched off for a moment. Within a minute, Eccles replied. 2–2. It’s something we’re learning from — scoring and then staying mentally switched on.

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Second Half – Oldham Turn the Screw

The second half showed growth.

We came out sharper, more controlled, and more direct. The ball moved well across the line, and the decision-making improved.

Early pressure saw Yuhas release Fletcher with a smart pass, and Fletcher finished confidently to restore the lead. Momentum shifted.

Around the 10th minute of the half, Yuhas spotted space around the ruck and sniped through. Try. 4–2.

Five minutes later, he did it again. Quick pick-up, acceleration through a gap, and over he went for his hat-trick.

Then on 18 minutes, spotting tired defenders and space out wide, he backed himself once more and finished superbly for his fourth try of the game.

That’s now three games, nine tries.

What a fantastic three weeks for Yuhas

Yuhas is growing into a genuine match-winner for Oldham. His tempo at number 9, his eye for a gap, and now his improving kicking game — including a big clearance from inside the 22 — are adding real control to his attacking threat.

Eccles managed a late consolation try, but the result was settled.

Final Score: Oldham 30 – 15 Eccles.
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Backline Impact

The backs deserve huge credit this week.

Cooper – Back of the Day
Cooper was outstanding. Hard carries, line breaks, strong defence, support lines everywhere. He punched holes in the defensive line, covered serious ground, and created opportunities for others. One of those performances where he just seemed to be involved in everything. A complete display.

Lucas at 10
Lucas deserves praise for stepping into the fly-half role again. He controlled phases well, passed smartly, and grew into the game in the second half. Calm head, confident decisions — a promising sign for the team.

Smart Game Management
Ethan Lee showed maturity late in the game with sensible kicks and clearances to relieve pressure. Knowing when to play and when to manage territory is something this team is starting to understand — and that’s encouraging.
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Forward Engine

While Eccles had moments in the scrum, our pack worked hard all day.

Jack – Forward Highlight
Jack carried strongly, linked well with the backs, and brought real energy to the middle. A strong and consistent performance.

George – Power at Number 8
And a special mention to George at number 8. He doesn’t need a second invitation to pick up from the base and drive. If there’s space in front of him, he’s going. He’s becoming one of the most consistent players in this team — doing that tough job week in, week out, and mastering it nicely. A very solid sign for Oldham Under 13s.

The bench also made a difference — fresh legs kept the tempo high and allowed us to stay aggressive.
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Looking Ahead

This wasn’t just about the scoreline. It was about growth — better structure, smarter decisions, and clinical finishing when it mattered.

Confidence is building, but next week brings another big challenge against Warrington. The key now is consistency.

For now, though, it’s a strong 30–15 victory, a brilliant team effort, and another standout performance and the Momentum is building at Oldham. 🏉🔥

Key Player Highlights:

• Back of the Day: Cooper — relentless carries, defensive breaks, support play and huge yardage.

• Forward Highlight: Jack — strong forward play and impact in the pack.

• Man of the Match: Yuhas — four outstanding tries and constant attacking threat.

A convincing 30–15 win, signs of smarter game management, and growing confidence across the squad. Promising times ahead for Oldham. 🏉🔥

06/02/2026

Oldham RUFC U13 vs West Park U13

Lancashire Cup – Away at West Park RUFC
Match Report by AJ

A Game to Remember at West Park RUFC

Oldham U13s went into this Lancashire Cup clash hungry for a result, but the odds were stacked from the start. No substitutes. Away from home. And up against the same West Park side that handed us an 11–0 loss last season. Tough ask? Absolutely. But this group came with a point to prove.

From kickoff, the lads showed intent. Despite West Park looking bigger across the park (same story as last year), Oldham took the game straight to them. The opening five minutes were all Oldham, camped in the West Park half, probing and pushing. Pressure paid off when George (No.8) crashed over in the 5th minute to open the scoring. 5–0 Oldham.

West Park responded with some big carries and direct drives, but Oldham stood firm — tackle after tackle, bodies on the line, proper grit. The ding-dong battle continued and Oldham started to stretch the defence. After a slick passage of play, moving the ball right to left and back again, Fletcher found a gap and powered through to score Oldham’s second in the 11th minute. 10–0 Oldham, and the boys were flying.

West Park needed a way out and found it through territory kicks. A couple of nervous moments at the back allowed them to capitalise, crossing twice in quick succession to level the score at 10–10 by the 15th minute.

With no subs, Oldham had to manage the pace, but the effort never dropped. Just after the 20-minute mark, Yuhas spotted a fractured defensive line, backed himself, and needed no second invitation — straight through and under the posts. 15–10 Oldham.

Again, West Park hit back almost immediately, exploiting tired legs to make it 15–15 at halftime. Proper cup rugby.

The second half started with both sides feeling the effects — heavy legs all round. But once again, Yuhas sniffed an opportunity and broke through early doors to grab his second try, putting Oldham back in front at 20–15.

The lead didn’t last long. West Park struck twice in quick succession to swing the score to 25–20. Oldham, to their credit, never folded. Jimmy led from the front with strong carries, backed up by Jack and Jacob Lewis, while George continued to be a menace with his pick-and-goes.

That pressure told when Jimmy muscled his way over in the 34th minute, levelling things again at 25–25. Game on.

Once more, West Park responded quickly, pushing ahead 30–25, and then capitalised on a clearance error to extend the lead to 35–25 with just minutes left. Heads dropped briefly — understandable — but not for long.

With three minutes to play, Yuhas, Jimmy, and George combined brilliantly, and Yuhas broke free despite high tackles and some heavy contact to complete a hat-trick. Huge heart, huge moment. 35–30, and suddenly Oldham were right back in it.

Last play of the game. One final chance. A clever idea nearly came off, but West Park reacted quickly to kick the ball dead and seal it. Full time: West Park 35 – Oldham 30.

A loss on paper, but one hell of a performance. With no subs, several lads carrying knocks, and still pushing a strong West Park side to the final whistle, this showed real growth. Attack-wise, Oldham looked sharp and well-structured. Defensively, a few key moments cost tries — but those are fixable.

Player Awards:

🏉 Back of the Day: Yuhas — hat-trick, massive workload, attack, defence, distribution. Outstanding.

💪 Forward of the Day: George — relentless carries, strong defence, and constant go-forward.

This team isn’t there yet — but they’re getting very close. If they keep playing like this, results will come. Massive respect to the lads for their courage, fight, and belief.

On to the next one. 👊🏉

01/02/2026

Tarleton v ORUFC u12 Lancashire cup 🏆

An excellent effort with 8 tries scored by our boys but unfortunately lost by 1 try. Our team again showed great sportsmanship and teamwork lending Tarleton 2 players so they could play the game today and they all played their hearts out no matter what shirt they had on!

Week on week these boys are coming together as a strong team, supporting each other and pushing each other to be better! Keep going boys 💪

Man of the match - Kyran 🏆
Shout outs - Ethan and Joe C 🏅🏅

27/01/2026

Oldham RUFC U13s Show Grit and Determination in
9–5 Away Victory Over Old Brodleians RUFC U13

Match Report by – AJ, 25-01-2026 at Old Bodleians RUFC, Halifax

Oldham U13s travelled to Halifax on a cold and soggy Sunday morning to face Old Brodleians RUFC, arriving with just one substitute after a long and tiring journey. Despite the challenging conditions, the boys delivered a spirited and disciplined performance to secure a well-earned 9–5 victory.

The match began with an early wake-up call for Oldham. Within the first 30 seconds, Old Brodleians’ tall and powerful No.12 spotted space on the left side, breaking through the defence to score the opening try of the game. It was a sharp and deserved start for the home side.

Oldham responded positively, showing strong commitment in defence and at the breakdown. Their effort paid off in the fourth minute when Jimmy powered through several defenders to level the scores at 1–1. Momentum swung in Oldham’s favour, with George, Jacob Roberts, and Jacob Lewis working tirelessly at the rucks to secure possession.

After a hard-fought five-minute battle in midfield, Oldham took the lead in the 10th minute. A well-worked move involving Fletcher and Mason resulted in Oldham’s second try, making it 2–1. The home side raised their intensity and capitalised on a few knock-ons from Oldham’s centres and wings, scoring in the 12th and 16th minutes to take a 3–2 lead.

Oldham finished the first half strongly, winning scrum penalties and applying pressure out wide. Another combined effort from Fletcher and Mason produced a try just before the break, bringing the scores level at 3–3. Defensively, Yuhas and Billy were outstanding, repeatedly shutting down the dangerous No.12 and preventing him from finding space after his early breakthrough.

Second Half – Dream Start!
The second half saw Oldham come out firing. Yuhas broke through the defence with a powerful solo run to score his first try of the game. Strong rucking support from George, Billy, and Jacob Lewis created quick ball, allowing Ethan Lee to bulldoze his way over the line for his first try at the 23rd minute.

At the 28th minute, Yuhas struck again, spotting a gap and sprinting in for his second try of the day to extend Oldham’s lead to 6–3. Substitutions followed, with Joe making an immediate impact in the scrum as Oldham’s forwards began to dominate, much to the delight of the coaching staff.

Old Brodleians fought back and scored in the 32nd minute, narrowing the gap to 6–4. However, Oldham’s defence remained solid, with Yuhas and Billy continuing to make crucial tackles.

In the 35th minute, a clever move from a ruck saw Fletcher cut across from left to right, catching the defence off guard to score another well-practiced team try. The home side replied quickly, making it 7–5, but Oldham finished the match in style. Big Ethan Lee crossed for his second try, and in the final minute, Jimmy added his second of the game to seal a deserved 9–5 victory.

It was a strong all-round performance from Oldham U13s, showing resilience, teamwork, and discipline with limited errors. The team will look to build on this momentum ahead of their upcoming cup fixture this Sunday.

Man of the Match Awards:
• Forward of the Day: Jimmy
• Back of the Day: Yuhas

The referee also made special mention of Yuhas, praising him as the best scrum-half he has seen this season and congratulating him on an outstanding performance.

With courage in defence, power up front, and creativity in attack, Oldham U13s showed the true spirit of the game — a performance the players, coaches, and supporters can be proud of.

25/01/2026

It was an absolute battle for the Under 12s playing away today with no subs against a well organised, high achieving Broughton Park squad with a lot more players to throw on fresh legs throughout the game. The whole team put their everything into it losing by just one try after dominating the first half.

2 absolute runaway try scoring efforts, strong defence, huge improvements in team work and tackling! The team are getting stronger with every game 💪

Excellent effort by everyone!

Player of the match today was Stanley 🏆

18/01/2026

18.1.26 ORUFC U12s played a round robin away at Dukinfield. The boys absolutely played their hearts out and put their bodies on the line but it was all worth it to come away with a total of 12 tries and 2 wins! Well played boys 💪👏🏉