Amateur rugby round up

HOLLINWOOD'S Alistair Williams pushes through the pack

HOLLINWOOD'S Alistair Williams pushes through the pack

NEW recruit David Sweeney marked his return to Higginshaw with an inspired performance to help the club to a first victory of the season over Bolton Mets in division four.

Sweeney, a former BARLA Great Britain under-21s international who has spent the last four seasons with Oldham St Anne's, prompted and directed a young team effectively as Higgy picked up a 22-14 win.

The two points lifted the team off bottom spot at the expense of local rivals Waterhead 'A' and came about as a result of Higgy playing their best rugby of the year.

Bolton Mets opened the scoring with a try after 10 minutes, before Chris Tomlin burst onto a David Hewson pass to score under the posts, Ryan O'Donnell converting for a 6-4 lead.

The visitors hit back on the half-hour with a converted score, but a good move that ended with the impressive Tomlin slipping in O'Donnell, who converted, gave the home team a 12-10 advantage.

The visitors then scored two minutes before the break to take the lead once more.

Hewson put Higginshaw in front with a classy try from acting half, stepping one way then the other, O'Donnell edging Higgy ahead at 16-14.

After some terrific defending, play switched to the other end and a David Sweeney kick to the in-goal resulted in a defensive mix-up from which Paul Turner was able to take advantage, touching down for the game-sealing try.




ELSEWHERE in the same division, Waterhead 'A' lost 34-28 to Bamber Bridge with the last play of the game.

It was tough on the home team, who recovered from adversity to almost claim the points themselves.

After early pressure from the visitors, Waterhead went in front through a 50-yard stunner from Jamie Barnes, off Lord's sweet inside pass.

Lord also converted before man-of-the-match Tommy Howe scored with a similar effort, this time provided by the other half-back James Campbell, Lord again adding the extras.

After Bamber Bridge had come up with two well-worked tries of their own, veteran Tony Pemberton went in for the first of his brace for a 18-14 half-time lead.

Waterhead began the second half brightly but became frustrated at questionable tackles and suffered from a pair of sin-binnings for punching, with Stuart Conway and Andrew Marsh having to sit out.

Momentum was lost and after Pemberton had crossed off Campbell's precise kick, the visitors equalised with five minutes left.

Waterhead went for a drop goal through Lord but it failed to come off — though the home team felt it was handled by the opposition. A penalty followed for the visitors and they scored a converted try off it.



IN DIVISION one, Oldham St Anne's 'A' lost 21-20 at home to Albert Park, while Saddleworth Rangers 'A' went down 46-6 at Hindpool.



Williams double helps Hollinwood edge it

ALISTAIR Williams (see picture) scored two tries in a man of the match performance for Hollinwood, who edged out visitors Selby 26-22.

This Pennine League division four clash was in doubt right up until the final whistle, as the home team clung on to their advantage to deservedly get the points.

Liam Parker opened the scoring at Fields New Road with a try converted by Darren Cooper, who then kicked two penalties after Selby had pulled level.

But the visitors crossed for two more tries before the break to leave them 16-10 in front with 40 minutes remaining.

Williams' first try of the game was then converted by Cooper to level it up once again, before Pete Jackson went over to put Hollinwood ahead.

Back came Selby with a converted effort to regain the lead in this nip-and-tuck affair, before Williams crashed over for his second, once more embellished by the boot of Cooper, to provide just reward for Hollinwood following a much-improved performance.

In addition to Williams, Cooper and John Kenway stood out but the powerful work done in the front row by Andy Charlton and Mike Richmond helped pave the way.




Super St Anne’s in away day joy

THATTO Heath are the only side to take points off Oldham St Anne's under-18s so far this season — but any thoughts of a league double vanished at the weekend.

Saints came away from their visit to previously-unbeaten Thatto with a superb 10-0 victory.

In wet conditions, Saints' forwards matched their sizeable counterparts up front and went into the lead when Greg Worrall scored five minutes before half-time.

The game was still in the balance right up until the last 10 minutes, when a well-worked move ended with Andy Fitzpatrick going over to complete a magnificent 'nilling'.

Ben Marsden was the man of the match in a great team performance.

o IN THE Gillette National Youth League, Saddleworth Rangers came up with a great fightback to beat Featherstone Lions 14-10 at home.

The visitors shaded the first half, in a game played in difficult conditions, but were only one try to the good.

But after conceding a further try, which was converted, Rangers picked up their first points via a Josh Brown try, which Ethan Langhorn converted.

Five minutes later, David Orwell went over from dummy-half and Langhorn's boot put the home team in front before he also landed a late penalty.

Waterhead were beaten 42-0 at home by league leaders Leigh Miners Rangers, a devastating three-try run within five minutes midway through the first half setting the platform.


HUDDERSFIELD Giants mascot Big G and a number of first-team players from the Super League club will be paying a visit to Saddleworth Rangers this Sunday, November 16.

They will be watching the under-16s take to the field against Parkside Golborne (11.45am) at Shaw Hall Bank Road as part of a new coaching link-up between the respective clubs and the visiting party will be on hand to meet and greet any interested visitors from around noon onwards.