Millom 16 Oulton Raiders 32

DESPITE putting in a hard-working performance on a sunny but breezy day, Millom fell to defeat, writes ELLIOT BURROW.

It was the visitors who were first out of the blocks in this National Conference Division Two match, when on four minutes they opened up the Millom defence with Rob Stanley crossing for an unconverted try.

From here, Millom grew into the game a bit and created opportunities of their own. They survived a couple of scares however, with Oulton having two tries disallowed. They did finally cross again on 23 minutes when James Cruickshank managed to find a way over the line. This time Kieron Walpole added the extras for a 10-0 lead.

Millom continued to build pressure on their opponents as they looked for that all-important score to get them back in the match.

But Oulton came back strongly and on 36 minutes, Harry Grayson crossed and Walpole’s boot made it 16-0.

The second-half began in similar fashion, with Oulton quick out of the blocks as they crossed on 42 minutes through Tim Stableford. Three minutes later Millom responded with Noah Robinson crossing and Lee Postlethwaite converting.

Millom pressure was rewarded again on 49 minutes as Dane Kelly scored and Postlethwaite again converted to reduce the deficit to only eight points.

And it was not that long before they scored again when Adam Kelly crossed on 56 minutes to cut the gap to four.

Millom continued to work and press hard but unfortunately on 65 minutes lost Noah Robinson to a head injury.

The Woollybacks then went close through young Kyle Evans, but they just couldn’t find a way over. Oulton took control again when, on 71 minutes, Brad Cahill scored, and they went over for two more tries in the closing stages through Kieron Walpole and Harry Kendall.

Joseph Wright picked up the home side’s man of the match and Oulton’s man of the match went to Andy Williamson.