Saints look for consistent run

ALEX EYRES: Did well on his return for St Anne’s.

CONSISTENCY is the key word for Oldham St Anne’s as they bid to build on last week’s stunning win at Castleford Panthers.

Few observers fancied Saints’ chance in travelling to face a buoyant side which sat in third spot in National Conference League division one — particularly given the way the team coached by Chris Deakin and Mick Cashin had fallen 30-4 against Wath Brow seven days previously.

But with returning prop forward Alex Eyres outstanding and half-back Paul Ashton pulling the strings in attack, gritty Saints picked up a 12-10 victory with a performance they hope to replicate at home to Eastmoor Dragons tomorrow (2pm kick off).

“It was a great effort and the lads put in 100-per-cent commitment,” said a delighted Cashin.

“We asked for a big improvement and we got it — we were superb defensively. But we have had other great results this year and it is about consistency for us now.”

Eastmoor, a Wakefield outfit, themselves enjoyed a terrific result last weekend in beating Dudley Hill 32-10 at home and will form dangerous opposition.

St Anne’s winger Dane English is doubtful after sustaining a blow to his jaw, but half-back Rick Badby should be back in contention for a place.

Elsewhere in the same division, Saddleworth Rangers aim to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat to get their promotion bid back on track when paying a visit to Normanton Knights (2.30pm).

Rangers’ stumbling home form continued as they were beaten 15-6 by Stanningley at Shaw Hall Bank Road and Keith Brennan’s men now sit in seventh place in the table.

Tomorrow they are away at a Knights side propping up the rest of the division, having only picked up one point from nine matches.

Any thoughts that they are likely to be pushovers can be dismissed, though, thanks in no small part to the valiant effort put in last weekend.

Normanton only lost 24–16 at leaders Wath Brow, who were restricted to a mere 16-14 advantage at half-time, in a close-fought encounter.