18 February 1922

PRECOCIOUS BABES

Featherstone Rovers, the babes of the N.U. League, offered stiffer opposition to Oldham, the league leaders, at Watersheddings, than was anticipated and the final score does not represent the run of the play.

At the same time Oldham’s superiority in the fine arts of the game merited their large margin of points.  In the second half, in particular, Featherstone were often on the attack, and some keen play took place time and again almost on the Oldham line. But the efforts Featherstone were crude in comparison with those of Oldham.  It was strong individualism against scientific combination. The Featherstone forwards held own in the pack and loose, and dribbled strongly, and in this way often forced play to the Oldham half. But the team lacked cohesion and finish, and their forceful footwork and keen tackling could not counteract these defects.

Farrar by sidestepping and giving the dummy he beat opponent after opponent, and went over the line time after time with a couple of men hanging on to him. Oldham’s other try scorers were Hilton and Tighe, and the latter added two goals.  Featherstone’s only try was scored in the first minute of the second half, when Evan Davis had a kick charged down, and Woolley snapped up the ball and dropped over for try. In the last few minutes of the game J. Denton kicked goal from a mark near centre. Seymour, the Rovers full back, played a sound game, fielding and kicking most effectively.

Athletic News 20 February 1922