Rangers come up short in mid-table contest

OVER HE GOES . . . Saddleworth's Sam Hart scores the hosts' first try

SADDLEWORTH Rangers put up a terrific fight before going down 18-14 at home against fellow mid-table side Askam in the National Conference League Division Two.

Marc Dixon touched down first for the visitors after 17 minutes, with Joe Dowsett stepping up to add a precise conversion.

However, five minutes later Sam Hart dashed across the whitewash for Rangers to make it 6-4.

Two more tries either side of the interval - from Sam Dowsett and Garry Bolton - effectively took the game away from Saddleworth.

Joe Dowsett kicked both conversions, increasing Askam's lead to 18-4.

That score remained until six minutes from the end when Anthony Morrison went over for the first of his two late tries. Richard Joy added the conversion.

When Morrison crossed to make it 18-14 with three minutes left to play, home fans were sensing an unlikely victory.

But Askam hung on for the win and leapfrogged their hosts in the table as a result.

Rangers' next match is in the Challenge Trophy on Saturday when they travel to Hunslet Warriors.

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