Queenan reaches for the top

Junior rugby league

JOSH Queenan’s man-of-the-match award for Higginshaw under-14s thrust him to joint first in the Rugby Oldham Tri-Team Challenge standings.

Queenan was awarded top billing after claiming a try in his side’s 28-0 derby win over local rivals Oldham St Anne’s.

The game was also played as the semi-final of the Oldham Chronicle Junior Cup, meaning Higginshaw now play Saddleworth on finals day on Sunday, April 26, at Waterhead Park.

The other try scorers in a highly entertaining match were Jack Hughes (two), Patrick Fitzsimmons (two) and Jamie Mayall, with Hughes also notching two conversions.

Second in the man-of-the match stakes on the day was Fitzsimmons, with Danny Richardson of St Anne’s in third spot.

Queenan’s efforts draw him level at the top of the mini-competition’s overall individual standings, alongside Saddleworth Rangers’ Ryan Maneely — who can take top place all for himself, should he be named in the top three performers in his side’s final derby clash of the season against St Anne’s.

Second-half rally lifts Waterhead

WATERHEAD under-15s won 12-6 at third-placed Thatto Heath to draw level with Oldham St Anne’s at the top of the North-West Counties division one table.

In a game played out on a dreadful pitch, Waterhead fell behind after just 50 seconds and made too many errors in the first half, with a chance going begging for poor grounding.

The visitors dominated in the second half, though, scoring a pair of well-worked tries.

Jack Ford was first over, converted by Ben Whitehead, with Jack Cooke getting a second which was again added to by Whitehead.

But for another incorrect grounding and a controversial refereeing call, the margin of victory would have been greater.

Prop Brandon Meanock and Second Row Josh Johnson led the way in the forwards, with Whitehead and Daniel Yates marshalling the team well and never panicking.

A WATERLOGGED surface at Churchill playing fields saw Saddleworth Rangers under-14s reverse their fixture with Orrell St James — but they ended up feeling right at home, deservedly winning 28-18.

When the home side opened the scoring, there was the sense that Rangers could be on for a repeat of the 30-4 drubbing they had suffered two weeks earlier. But Lewis Galbraith soon replied to level the scores.

Though Orrell went over for the next two tries, Ryan Maneely scooted in under the posts before half-time — Ben White converted — to keep the visitors in the game at 14-10 behind.

Intelligent play from White at a pre-planned move sent in Maneely for another score, White converting before getting a try of his own and adding the extras.

Orrell replied with their own effort and continued to push forward, before White — named man-of-the-match for a brilliant overall performance — went over for his second with a trademark chip-and-collect over the top of the defence, which he converted to seal the win.

SHAW Rhinos produced an outstanding team performance to whitewash Cadishead 62-0 away from home.

The top performers on the day were Luke Bentley, Richard Adams and man-of-the-match James Allott.