Oulton Raiders (Rugby League)

 With a summer weekend off work, no football fixtures available, not even in Ireland, I decided to go and watch a local Rugby game. I've been to a few Rugby grounds over the years but it's very much second choice to me, if there was football I'd be there instead. However the first half here was very enjoyable, there's parking down the lane past the care home and then you walk past the cricket pitch and come out of the trees at the other side through to Raider Park, the rugby pitch.

The game started at a fast pace with Leigh out of the traps early with a try in the first few minutes however conversion missed, 4-0. Oulton stabilised and dug in to limit Leigh, but I always had the feeling Leigh were more calm and precise and could always go up a gear whereas it felt as if Oulton were at their maximum limit with nowhere else to go. Nevertheless they were level when the lad got the ball and ran the length of the pitch for a great try after a long run. He did however forget to curve under the posts for an easier conversion, however it was still kicked to give Oulton a slender lead. There was then a lul in the scoring but strangely Oulton decided to bring their number 17 on with a heavily bandaged knee and he could hardly walk never mind play rugby, I dont understand why he was brought on. It was a mistake as he was chasing shadows. Leigh went over again to make it 8-4 and then they really started to trunk the screw, centre number 6 ran through multiple bodies to go over and conversion was taken 14-4 before the giant number 17 forced his way over down the wing when Oulton players seemed to just give up 18-8 at half time.

I was already bemused that beforehand I was told kitchen closed, no pies available. It opens all morning for the youth games but then closes for the main event, so if you haven't eaten, you'll get nothing at Raider park, but you can drink as much alcohol as you want, not a great system to me and I don't see how it makes sense. Then things got even stranger, the players lined up ready to start the second half and then all of a sudden the referee went running off to the dressing room, supposedly injured but I would question that, he went off at a fair old pace so can't have been that bad. The official line was he injured his calf just before half time, with their being no assistant referees at the game he had presunedly been to phone some higher authority to decide what to do. It was clear the game wouldn't carry on and sure enough when he reappeared 10 minutes later the players were soon shaking hands. With Leigh understandably not wanting to travel to Oulton again and probably not able to given the financial cost of the bus, I was doubtful that this would be the agreed outcome either. It turns out the game was effectively deemed void with the return fixture at Leigh on 8th August being played for 4 points for the winner instead of the usual 2. Fair enough I suppose and best outcome for both sides. I fully expect Leigh to take those points in the reverse fixture.