Post denies Higgy an unlikely point

MEAT IN THE SANDWICH: Saddleworth Rangers full-back — and Chronicle columnist — Kevin Fitzpatrick (centre) is halted by the Wath Brow defence during his team’s 22-4 home defeat in National Conference League division one.

ONLY the width of a post prevented winless Higginshaw from picking up a point away at division four table-toppers Woolston Rovers.

Ryan O'Donnell's conversion attempt seven minutes from time went agonisingly close to bringing the scores level at 12-12 for bottom-of-the-table Higgy, but as it was they picked up a fifth defeat of the campaign despite putting in their best performance so far.

In a tough game played out in difficult conditions in Warrington, the home team held a 6-0 lead by half-time.

Higginshaw rallied after the break and when Mick Fogerty's high cross-field ball was taken up by a Woolston player, Mick Jewitt threw himself into a tackle to force a spillage which led to Mark Ward scrambling over to score, O'Donnell converting.

Woolston hit back to lead 12-6 with a dubious try in the corner, but the visitors didn't let their heads drop and responded with a try seven minutes from time.

Matt Corbally broke the line before being brought down 20 yards out, O'Donnell chipped a ball through and Fogerty took advantage to score.

But O'Donnell's conversion effort struck an upright to leave the home team 12-10 in front.

Dave Hewson put in a man-of-the-match performance and forwards Matt Corbally and Alan Dunn were both powerful.




IN DIVISION one, Oldham St Anne's 'A' defeated Wigan St Patrick's 'A' 40-12 at home, picking up a second win of the season that helps them climb away from the nether reaches of division one.



The visitors took the lead when Peter Gregory went in under the posts on five minutes, Ryan Baxter converting.

Saints, who had Australian Ryan Beakey making his debut only 24 hours after stepping off the plane, equalised when fellow countryman Chris Worth — also putting in his first appearance of the season — slipped past the defence to score, Steve McHugh converting.

Further tries from Graeme Sykes and John Kelly, plus to McHugh goals, gave St Anne's an 12-point advantage before a Baxter-goaled try just before the break made it 18-12.

Rick Badby's kick to the corner was pounced on by Luke Wallace on the restart for the home team, before a Dave Middleton try, added to by a Baxter goal, kept the Wigan side in touch.

But any aspirations the visitors had of picking up a first win of the season vanished when Badby, Anthony Platt and McHugh all went over, the latter goaling all three.




WATERHEAD 'A' picked up their first points of the season by winning at second-placed Eccles and Salford Juniors 10-6, thanks to an excellent team performance.



Though the first team had no game, only centre Darren Nixon and last year's under-18s star Jack Burns joined the regular squad, which was also boosted by a special appearance from prop forward Tommy Howe, who retired at the end of last season.

The visitors set out their stall from the opening whistle to put pressure on the high-flying home side and with Howe supported well by young Andrew Marshall in the front row, Waterhead made plenty of yards in attack.

Though it was 0-0 at half-time, it seemed only matter of time before 'Head opened the scoring. The first try duly arrived on 50 minutes, when a beautifully weighted kick was gathered by Burns, who sprinted clear of the cover to score near the posts, with James Campbell converting.

Man-of-the-match Matthew Barran, normally employed in the second row but this time operating at hooker, then cantered through a static marker defence to score increase Waterhead's lead.

At 10-0 down, Eccles never looked like breaking through the visitors' resolute defence up until the point that a brief lapse in concentration let them in for six points.

It wasn't enough to stop Waterhead, for whom Barran was well supported by Aidy Patrick and Martin Kenney.

In division three, Saddleworth Rangers 'A' won 22-16 at Widnes St Marie's and Rochdale Cobras lost 46-12 at Rylands 'A'.




New start times for Conference



THE THREE local teams involved in the National Conference League are all back in action this week, as the kick-off times are brought forward to 2pm.



Saddleworth Rangers face an away trip to Millom looking to arrest a run of just one win in four — admittedly tough — games, following an unbeaten start.

Oldham St Anne's will be looking to upset Wath Brow when they visit Higginshaw Road, while in division two, Waterhead have the chance to pick up two league points at home to bottom-placed Hull Isberg




OLDHAM St Anne's under-18s produced a top-class display to beat Ashton Bears 26-12 in North-West Counties League division one.



In wet conditions, Jordan White, Mushadik Khan and Callum Casey all had good games, while Ben Marsden picked up the man-of-the-match award after claiming two tries.