Away-day woe as premier prize eludes Rangers

SADDLEWORTH Rangers under-14s have missed out on the North-West Counties premier division title after losing 34-12 to an outstanding Rylands team.

A try and a penalty put hosts Rylands 6-0 up before Rangers had got into the game.

Lewis Galbraith then crossed for the visitors, Ben White converting to level matters before a knock-on from the kick-off gave Rylands the chance to score a converted try of their own to go back in front before half-time.

Another penalty extended the home side’s lead, before Ryan Maneely went over under the posts for a well deserved try. Man-of-the-match White added the extras.

Trailing by two points, Saddleworth — who travelled with only 15 players due to injury, illness and holidays — weren’t helped by having a player sin-binned and the defensive efforts of the first half took their toll as Rylands ran in four more tries before the end.

The under-eights of Saddleworth Rangers bounced back after defeat last week to see off Leigh Miners Rangers by seven tries to five away from home.

Man-of-the-match Josh Yarwood led the scoring with four tries, while Brad Jinks, Elijah Wolstenholme and Ben Forster all collected one each.

Sam Pellowe was the most improved player, with Adam Howarth the top tackler.

o OLDHAM St Anne’s lost 26-10 at Widnes Moorfield, paying for a slow start which allowed the home team run in two converted tries before Saints had put any sort of rugby together.

Owen Baldwin then showed good vision to put a wide pass out for Jamie Kelly, who did well to get the ball over the line.

St Anne’s then played well in patches, but it was not enough against a bright Widnes outfit.

Nathan Done raised the hopes of the visitors when he burst through on halfway and showed enough pace to score under the sticks for a try he converted himself, but it wasn’t enough.

Regan Croft was Saints’ man-of-the-match, while Brandon Sanderson took the top tackler award.

A strong Shevington outfit overcame St Anne’s under-nines by eight tries to seven.

In a superb team performance, Robert Charles, Jack Smyth, debutant Adam Goodwin, Cole Connelly and top tackler Sam Hall all notched tries, with boy-of-the-match Macauley Jones scoring twice.

Saints under-eights were triumphant by that same eight-tries-to-seven scoreline, at home against Thatto Heath.

Tries came from Asa France, Thomas Barnes, Max Flanagan, Ben Ivell (two) and Ethan Chiappe, plus a full-length effort from Samuel Jewitt.


England honours

LOCAL trio Kyle Mayall, Daniel Yates and Kristian Bell are all in action for England Schools this weekend.

The under-15s squad, which includes Royton and Crompton’s Mayall and Counthill pupil Yates, face regular opponents Wales under-16s on Good Friday, April 10, at Blackwood RUFC in Gwent (1pm kick off).

England under-16s, meanwhile, are up against France Cadets under-16s in their annual two-match series.

Bell, who also attends Counthill, will be involved in the Good Friday clash at Odsal (5.40pm) and the follow-up game at the Wigan Warriors School of Excellence — formerly Orrell RUFC — on Tuesday, April 14 (6pm).