OLDHAM secured a vital and welcome 5-0 victory over Wigan in what proved to be a big day both on and off the pitch for the club.

The key clash coincided with Oldham’s annual old boys reunion - and sausage tasting competition - and thankfully the host managed to find that winning recipe.

The teams ran out and a minute’s applause with everyone out on the terrace for those the club had lost during the last we months and some 120 plus people attended the popular get-together.

Oldham had as close to everyone available and the coach unfortunately had to leave people out for the first time this season.

The home side started well and took control early on with territory and possession.

A lineout on the Wigan 5 metre line brought Oldham’s pack together and after a good catch from Ryan Pickles, Oldham drove forward and Jordan McEwan scored.

The conversion was missed and Oldham led 5-0.

The rest of the first half it was a case of Oldham having territorial advantage but not quite being calm or smart enough to grind out any further advantage up to half time.

To say that the second half was an arm wrestle would be an understatement. Captain Jack Taylor, as so many other times this season, led from the front putting his body on the line.

Having made some changes and the scrums being uncontested, it took some sting out of the game and both sides failed to take full control of the game.

Oldham thought they had scored when Adam Walker went over but the referee didn’t see a grounding.

Wigan struggled to get into the Oldham 22 during the game and there was only a handful of times this happened.

There was no further score in the match and it finished much to the coach’s relief 5-0

Not a match of the year contender for sure but what was evident was the Oldham defence stood firm in poor conditions.

The first shut out of the season in the most important game shows the grit and determination that the team display every week.

Jack Taylor was named man of the match for an outstanding defensive performance.

If Oldham had been given that score line at the start of the day they would have taken it however both the coaching party and players felt they were much better than the end score line.

The fourth win of the season in the Lancashire County RU Leagues Premier Division was much needed for Oldham and was a fitting way to mark the old-boys together where everyone was able to have a good catch-up in the bar afterwards for a good few hours where some had not crossed paths for more than 10 years or more.

Meanwhile, on Sunday Oldham’s Corey Kelly represented Lancashire against Cheshire U 16s and came away with a win 17-15.