A reshuffled Vagabonds Rugby Club lined up for their first home game of the season in Counties Three ADM Lancs/Cheshire and came good with a 26-14 bonus point win over Oldham.

Injuries to Archie Benson and George Hotchkiss saw skipper Dan Bonwick move from back row to stand off. Leo Marques moved from fullback to cover Bonwick and Paul Howard switched to fullback, leaving Cal Donnell to make his first appearance of the season at centre.

Oldham were mauled at home by Dukinfield the previous week and were keen to get moving. They drew a soft penalty from Vagas in only the second minute and full back Jenson Connell stroked it home for an early lead.

Vagas replied in the perfect way three minutes later. Oldham knocked on from the restart and conceded a penalty, Bonwick tapped it quickly and, with Matty Jones acting as the link, Nathan Wyllie went over for the try. Bonwick converted for a 7-3 lead.

The advantage didn’t last long. Harry Goodwin was caught offside at the first ruck after the restart and Jenson Connell’s boot did the rest with his second penalty of the afternoon.

In the 19th minute Oldham followed up with a try. Phil Conroy made good yardage down the right and Vagas were caught offside. Oldham’s Lewis Ward tried a quick sneak but was repelled on the line, then the ball was shipped left where centre Corey Kelly dotted down.

Just as it looked Oldham were in charge, they inexplicably hit the self-destruct button. As Vagas worked into the Oldham 22, Sean Carter made what was adjudged a high tackle and was sent to the sin bin.

From the resulting penalty, Vagas' crash ball was denied a score by Jack Taylor who was in an offside position. A penalty try was awarded, with Taylor joining his team-mate on the naughty step.

Oldham regrouped from this and were able to hold off Vagas for the remainder of the first half, leaving Vagas 14-11 ahead.

Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Jenson Connell struck his third penalty of the day to level the scores at 14-14 and that was how it stayed until the final 10 minutes.

Vagas built pressure with some direct running and had worked their way into the Oldham red zone. After a series of pick-and-drive moves, replacement Jack Goodwin was on hand to finish, with Bonwick adding the extras.

From the restart, Oldham lost another to the sin bin when hooker Josh Semple mistimed his hit on Brendan Kelly and saw yellow.

This time Vagas did press home their advantage and their powerful pack gave number eight Matt Clowes something of an armchair ride in an attacking scrummage and he launched over the line to secure the bonus point.

Nomads pipped at Dukinfield

Southern Nomads exited the Cheshire Plate after a narrow 27-20 defeat at Dukinfield.

Tries from Ewan Chapman and Tom Collister gave Nomads an early lead and by half-time they were 10-7 in front after Dukinfield pulled one back.

Dukinfield took the lead just after the interval but a Sam Kennaugh try converted by Ethan Watt put Nomads back in front.

In true cup tie style though, Dukinfield went in again and the converted try left them 19-17 ahead.

Ethan Watt then kicked a penalty to retake the lead for Nomads before Dukinfield claimed the game with a try and a penalty in the closing stages.

RESULTS

Saturday, October 3:

Regional Two North West

Douglas 69-26 Burnage

Counties Three ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Vagabonds 26-14 Oldham

Cheshire Plate

Dukinfield 27-20 Southern Nomads