Saints snatch a thrilling victory

OLDHAM St Anne’s picked up their first victory of the season, beating Stanningley 22-20 in National Conference League division one – but as the score suggests, it was a close-run thing.

A strong comeback by a physical Stanningley outfit had the visitors leading up to the last two minutes. But after closing out a number of sets near their own line, Saints burst downfield and edged ahead through Ryan Blake’s try, for a lead they held on to until the final whistle.

Even then, there was a scare on the very last play of the game. Thankfully for the home tea, young debutant winger Mark Dixon – who scored one of Saints’ four tries – was on hand to produce a vital try-saving tackle.

“We showed a lot of character,” said coach Chris Deakin, whose team led 12-4 at half-time. “Danny Kay had a blinder for us , Jason Best played 80 minutes in the front row and Rick Badby created three of our tries.”

St Anne’s went into the game without the services of Chris Clarke, and the suspended Phil Jagger, while Mick Wallace and Dave Harris withdrew late on.

But the home side started strongly and went ahead after 10 minutes, a superb move involving Badby and Lee Forsythe ending with Chris Carter crashing over under the posts, Kiel Lancashire adding a conversion.

A penalty by Lancashire was then added to by Dixon’s try in the corner on 25 minutes, following a flowing move.

Stanningley then came back after a period of pressure to score through Adam Rudys a minute before the break.

The visitors struck again through Simon Bowker’s try, Ryan Sample adding a goal, before Scott Hargreaves added another, Sample again converting, for a 16-12 Stanningley lead.

David Sweeney’s score for Saints, added to by a Lancashire conversion, was answered by another Bowker effort to give the visitors a 20-18 lead, before Blake’s late effort, squeezing in at the corner, gave his team all three points.






WATERHEAD fell to a second consecutive defeat in division two, losing 20-12 at Egremont.



Terry Fitzgerald’s goal handed the visitors a lead on 17 minutes, but Rhys Davies responded to give the Cumbrian side ahead.

Rory Freek’s’ try, converted by Fitzgerald, put Waterhead 8-4 up before Lee Park charged in to level it up at the break.

Warren Stainton then sped over, John Paul Brocklebank adding a goal, to put Egremont ahead again. Dale Horn added another on the hour, before Mark Leyden’s try ensured a tight finish, prior to Brocklebank’s late penalty ending the contest.

Saddleworth Rangers’ game at Shaw Cross Sharks, also in division one, was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. It means Rangers have yet to play a league game.