Late try soothes Saints’ nerves

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE: Oldham St Anne’s captain Chris Carter is held by two Elland rivals

RUGBY:

OLDHAM St Anne’s were forced to dig deep as they maintained their fine start to the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two season with a 26-20 win over Elland.

The visitors had a perfect start, forcing a goal-line drop out from the kick-off. When the ball sailed out, scrum-half Phil Taylor slotted home the simple conversion to give the Yorkshiremen their first points of the season.

Saints captain Chris Carter scored his side’s opening try in the 10th minute, with Kiel Lancashire adding the conversion.

The sides were fairly evenly matched throughout, but towards the end Saints, who won on the opening day of the campaign, pressed for another score deep in their opponents’ territory, from which Taylor pulled the ball out of the air and raced 70 metres to score.

Elland began to take control and on the back of three penalties, second-row forward Luke Read went in at the corner flag. When Taylor reduced the deficit to two points, it was very much game on.

With 10 minutes left, Saints advanced into the Elland 22 for the first time since White’s score 20 minutes earlier and it was Collins’ off-load at the corner flag which allowed his centre partner Greg Worrall to squeeze in and give the home side some breathing space.