Home comforts for victorious Rangers

ON THE SURGE: John Sweeney of Oldham St Anne’s (right) pushes forward against West Bowling.

North-West Counties League

SADDLEWORTH ‘A’ made it third time lucky in division three.

Searching for their first points of the season after two defeats, they recorded a 16-12 victory over Mayfield ‘A’ in their opening home game.

The scoring didn't start until the 50th minute with Shaun Robinson's unconverted try giving Rangers the lead.

A Steven Lees try followed, converted by Ethan Langhorn, but Mayfield then replied with two converted tries themselves which saw the scoreline go to 12-10 in their favour.

However, with just five minutes, remaining Adam Jeffries scored under the posts and Langhorn added the extras to clinch victory.


AN IMPROVED performance from Waterhead 'A' wasn't enough to prevent them falling to a 28-12 loss at home to Leigh Central in division four.

They had to battle adversity from the off, with influential prop John Lowther and hard hitting second row Alan Hughes both exiting early with muscle tears.

During the reshuffle Leigh scored two converted tries, before the the home team upped its game with half-backs Neil Goulden and James Campbell opening up the defence. But the only try in this period came from the excellent Ryan Grumbridge on his seasonal debut.

Goulden scored a clever try as Waterhead came out all guns blazing after the break, before Leigh scored out wide.

An interception try broke the resistance of the depleted home team to take the game away from them, but there was still time for under-18s prospect Jack Pemberton to crash over for a great team try. Man of the match for Waterhead was Andrew Smith.


HIGGINSHAW lost 42-0 to a strong Spring View side in division four.

The home team dominated from the off and despite some brilliant defending, scored four first-half tries to lead 24-0 as the teams changed ends.

Another converted effort sent Spring View into a commanding 30-0 lead, before Higginshaw were denied just short of the line, with Scott Hewson the disappointed party.

Another try arrived just after the hour but it wasn't until two minutes from time that the next one arrived. Paul Turner was Higgy's outstanding performer on the day, followed closely by Ryan O'Donnell and Sam Abbott.



ROCHDALE Cobras made hard work of seeing off Wigan Bulldogs 36-16 at home in division six.

The visitors profited from an early mistake to take the lead, before a training ground move midway through the first half saw Gavin Clough put in Liam Hughes at the corner.

A poor kick-off drill saw the Bulldogs go in again, before a pair of Gareth Wood tries started to take the game away from the Wigan outfit.

Another messy kick-off saw the Bulldogs go in for another converted score, but this time it served as a wake-up call to the Cobras.

Man-of-the-match Adam Butterworth, who recently represented Lancashire on the wing in their victory over the touring South Africa national side, then made a 30-yard break to pick up a fine try which Gareth Hutchins converted, before the hooker himself crossed for a try he also added the extras to.

Further tries from Butterworth and Wood, completing his hat-trick, gave the scoreline a polished look.



Rugby Oldham Challenge

Six-way tussle at the top for Man of Steel honour

SECOND man-of-the-match performances of the season from Oldham St Anne's hooker Danny Kay and Waterhead back Alan Williamson pushed them both to joint top of the Man of Steel standings.

The Saints man was outstanding in his side's disappointing 22-18 home defeat to West Bowling and he moves up alongside team mates Kiel Lancashire and Lee Forsythe — both of whom have also claimed top honours for their teams on two occasions so far this season — in the quest for the £500 winning cheque.

Williamson was similarly excellent for Waterhead, who went down 28-10 at Heworth. He also joins team mate Andrew Cheetham and Saddleworth Rangers full-back Tom Lever at the top of the rankings, with each of them having picked up two MOMs apiece to make it a six-way tussle.

In the team standings, it is a case of 'as you were', though there has been a tightening in terms of points differences between the sides.

Saddleworth Rangers remain in pole position and have played two games less than nearest challengers St Anne's and Waterhead, but Rochdale Cobras, 36-16 winners at the weekend, will fancy their chances of mounting a challenge given a few more games under their belt.

The upcoming weekend is a quiet one as far as the local National Conference League clubs are concerned, with only Saddleworth in action in division one.

Keith Brennan's men face a tough task at home to second-placed Cumbrian side Wath Brow Hornets and will be hoping to build on last week's 18-16 victory at Bradford Dudley Hill.

Wath Brow then face another trip to Oldham the following week, to take on old foes St Anne's.




Pennine League

COOPER TREBLE

A HAT-TRICK of tries and six goals from Darren Cooper were enough to land the Hollinwood scrum-half the man-of-the-match award, as his side picked up a 44-28 win at Brighouse Rangers 'A' in division four.

Cooper and John Kenway lined up well in the halves and were given a good platform up front by Mick Wilson, Ian Hunt and Pete Jackson, while Phil Smith also caught the eye in a good all-round team performance.

Hollinwood's other tries on the day came from Ian Hunt (two), Jackson, Phil Bell and Kenway, but it wasn't an easy ride.

A spirited Brighouse side, who failed to raise a team last weekend, signed on several players during the week and made the visitors fight all the way to the end for the points.