Late action spells defeat for Oswestry against leaders

Port Sunlight 19

Oswestry 14

Oswestry remain third in the table after a narrow defeat away at league leaders Port Sunlight on Saturday.

A difficult game was always in store as the Eagles took on the league’s highest-scoring side at their own ground.

With that being said, it was a game in which Oswestry started well, with the visitors scoring a try after just six minutes of play.

Fin Grogan used his initiative and skill to place a kick over the forwards and onto the try line where Tom Henry-Jones was waiting to grab the ball and dot down over the line.

Grogan converted the kick and gave his side a 7-0 lead.

The locals could not get through the wall of red and black as the defence was too good; however the continuing pressure caused Oswestry to concede a penalty which was kicked over the posts by the hosts to make it 7-3.

There was a defensive blow for Oswestry after 32 minutes when Kele Raturoko picked up a leg injury and was forced off.

In the second half, once again the locals could not break through the defence; however, like before, their continued pressure saw Oswestry concede a second penalty, which the hosts scored to make it 7-6.

Oswestry came right back into the game and Henry-Jones caught the locals off guard to find space out-wide and score his second try of the day. Grogan converted the kick to make it 14-6.

But a late surge from the home side saw them snatch the victory.

Another penalty conceded by the Oswestry defence allowed Port Sunlight to reduce the margin to five points.

The physicality of the game finally took its toll and Oswestry conceded a try to bring the scores level.

Finally, the locals broke through again and from a mistake, and they were able to score another try, again missing the conversion.

Oswestry were unable to find a late breakthrough and had to settle for a loss.

Next week Oswestry have to go through this all over again as they host Port Sunlight.