Bell rings true for dogged Saints

Nial Dunnington-Wallace (Waterhead) is stopped in his run for the try line.

A LARGE crowd at Peach Road were treated to a fine afternoon’s entertainment as visitors Oldham St Anne’s defeated Waterhead 30-12.

The victory enhanced Saints’ chances of booking a play-off place in Division Two of the Kingstone Press National Conference League, while for the hosts it only added to their relegation troubles.

Saints emerged with all guns blazing.

Within three minutes of the kick-off, star player Chris Bell touched down after a fine break from player-coach Mick Fogerty. Carl Sneyd added the conversion.

Waterhead replied nine minutes later when a knock-on allowed Peter Davies in for a try, and with Jamie Mayall converting, the contest was all-square at 6-6.

Eric Johnson then made a telling break, which saw Saints captain Chris Carter touch down — Sneyd kicked the goal — before Bell raced 80 yards to score on the half-hour mark.

Despite trailing 16-6, Waterhead, led superbly by Jack Pemberton and coach Chris Hough, proved a real handful, and it was only through stout defending that they were denied further points.

It was against the run of play that Saints increased their advantage to 22-6 at the break, with Sean Thomas going in and Sneyd adding the extras.

Waterhead capitalised on Saints’ poor discipline early in the second half, and were rewarded with a Hough try and a Mayall conversion.

At 22-12, it was very much game on. However, Saints regained their composure, enabling Josh Denbigh and Niall Collins to go over in the last 15 minutes.

To their credit, Waterhead continued to press hard, with impressive winger Davies and Hough only being denied by some scrambling Saints defence.

With Castleford Panthers winning 40-4 at basement boys Stanningley, Waterhead are now second-bottom.

They have four games remaining to try to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

SADDLEWORTH Rangers were on course to cause an upset late on in the first half of their Division One clash against title-chasing Rochdale Mayfield at Shaw Hall Bank Road.

Shane Tupaea’s side had a 7-6 lead, but they only had a Josh Bradbury penalty to celebrate in the second period as they slumped to a 22-9 defeat.

Bradbury had touched down for third-bottom Rangers and he also kicked another two-pointer. Ben Whitehead, with a field goal, made up the home side’s tally.

Ade Gleeson (two), Sam Butterworth and Setta Talla dived in for Mayfield. Butterworth also landed three goals.