Maneely is spark for Saddleworth

RUGBY: SADDLEWORTH School’s Year 11s progressed to the Carnegie Champion Schools’ North-West Cup quarter-finals after a 40-20 defeat of Wigan’s Abraham Guest School.

After trailing early on at Churchill playing fields, hosts Saddleworth hit back through a first half

hat-trick from Ryan Maneely and tries from Josh Bradbury and Lewis Ralph.

The visitors rallied after the interval and crossed three times, but Maneely’s fourth touchdown and a Scott Booth try, which capped a fine team move, did the job for Saddleworth.

Ben White added six conversions out of a possible seven for Saddleworth.

Saddleworth travel to Wigan’s St Edmund Arrowsmiths in the next round.


WATERHEAD under-17s saw off Latchford Albion Giants 39-6, to reclaim second place in the North-West Counties Premier Division. Giants actually took a 6-0 lead early on, but that is where their scoring ended.
Brandon Meanock soon replied for Waterhead and saw his try converted by Ben Whitehead, to level matters.

John Deakin crossed to extend the lead, and Meanock’s second was goaled by Whitehead on the stroke of half-time.

Jonathan Fouldes raced through to score, and Whitehead goaled his own touch down.

Further converted efforts from Fouldes and Luke Bentley preceded a Whitehead drop goal from 40 yards.


OLDHAM St Anne’s under-nines defeated Waterhead 5-3 thanks to a Daniel Nixon hat-trick, and tries from Brandon Turner and Sam Thackeray.
Saints’ under-12s slayed Atherton Dragons 24-10, thanks to tries from Owen Baldwin, Cameron Molloy, Haider Khan and a James Barran brace. Baldwin and Brace goaled for Saints.

All of Saints’ points were scored in the first half, and with Dragons producing a much better performance after the break, Jamie Kelly’s defensive prowess came in handy.

The under-11s earned a 30-22 victory at the expense of Accrington Wildcat.


SADDLEWORTH Rangers under-16s got the better of Latchford Albion Unicorn with a 24-14 win, in an entertaining encounter.
Ben White broke the deadlock for Rangers, going over in the corner, and he converted it himself.

Latchford hit back to narrow the gap to two points, only for White to touch down under the posts and add the extras.

White turned provider when he fed Ryan Maneely, who crossed. White goaled.

After the restart Latchford went over and enjoyed a decent spell of pressure, at which point Rangers led the contest 18-8.

Rangers finally broke out and Maneely’s second try was converted by White.


Despite producing a spirited display, Saddleworth Rangers under-13s lost 22-8 to a strong Ince Rose Bridge side. Ali Hassan and Harry Aaronson touched down for Rangers.