First-half blitz puts Rangers in command

Date published: 28 June 2016


SADDLEWORTH Rangers cruised to a comfortable success against Dewsbury Celtic, emerging as 44-6 winners in Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two.

Gavin Dodd was the star of the show for the home team, who racked up a healthy advantage by half-time and had Ash Wildman to thank for a try two minutes after the resumption which sealed the contest.

Wildman and Harry Godfrey touched down for tries that were converted by Ben Whitehead.

Though Celtic hit back with a Josh Knowles score which Rich Tillotson improved, further efforts by Oliver Kerr (two) and Dale Lowe, added to by a Whitehead goal, handed Rangers a 26-6 half-time lead.

Loose forward Wildman made the game safe and Tom Dransfield crossed just before the hour before later being sent off for alleged punching.

Undeterred, the hosts ran in another try with three minutes to go through Simon Parrish, Whitehead finishing with six goals.

In Division Three, a late show from Waterhead Warriors was not enough to seriously threaten hosts Drighlington, who stay third in the table thanks to a 26-14 victory.

The visitors found themselves up against it as the West Yorkshire side surged into a 26-0 lead by the hour thanks to tries from Dan Cahill (two), Ryan Burton, Ben Nabozny and Harry Woolaston, with Michael Sanderson kicking three goals.

The response from Waterhead came via two tries from Alex Jobson and one from Jamie Mayall, with Terry Fitzgerald adding a goal.