Late heroics fail to secure deserved away-day joy

WATERHEAD'S 'A' team didn't accumulate much luck during the nine-week break between matches, it seems.

Bolstered by a number of under-18s players who have stuck with the club despite the disbanding of the side at that age group, the team travelled with 14 players for the away match at Bolton Mets — and will count themselves unfortunate to have suffered a 27-24 defeat in division four.

After arriving late with no opportunity to warm up, Waterhead were caught cold and found themselves 10-0 down after only 15 minutes.

It wasn't long, though, until the pack gained momentum through Rory Freek and Phil Joy, while man-of-the-match John Mitchell took the game to Bolton and directed a young team superbly.

The visitors scored five tries in all, through Neil Goulden, Mitchell, Jack Pemberton, Darren Nixon and — with the best of the lot — Matty Holland, who backed up a length-of-field move to take a sublime reverse pass from fellow under-18s man Pemberton.

Nixon kicked two goals and Waterhead held the lead with 10 minutes left. However, the visitors lost possession from a kick-off and with only 12 men left on the field due to injury, fell behind by two points to which the Bolton side added a drop goal six minutes from time. The home team held on despite a late Waterhead onslaught.

WATERHEAD FACING LOCK LANE REPEAT

WATERHEAD are at home to Castleford Lock Lane for the second week running on Saturday, this time in the first round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup (1.30pm kick off).

Saddleworth Rangers are away at Hull Isberg (1.30pm) in the same stage. The second round draw takes place on Tuesday, January 27.

Clubs from the Co-operative Championships, Russian and French Federations will enter the Challenge Cup at the third round stage, with Super League teams joining the tournament in the fourth round.

Oldham St Anne's were originally set to play their BARLA National Cup third round match away at Siddal this weekend.

However, the Halifax club still have a Challenge Cup first round tie at home to Thatto Heath to play, so that automatically gets preference.

Saints have instead fixed up a National Conference League division one game away at Shaw Cross Sharks (2pm).

Big day for family as Saints win

THE Marsdens enjoyed a red letter day as Oldham St Anne's dismissed the challenge of visiting Wath Brow in the preliminary round of the Northern Rail BARLA National Youth Cup.

Barnstorming prop forward Ben Marsden was the opposition coach's choice as man-of-the-match in a 32-6 win, while father and coach Bob Marsden was named as coach of the month after the game.

"The pack was brilliant and we smashed them all over," said the St Anne's coach.

"We are all looking forward to the next round now."

The home defensive effort was well-led by Michael Arrowsmith and Sean Hamilton, with the backs coming into their own after half-an-hour, Callum Casey and Mark Lees proving to be effective.

Saints are back in league action this weekend at home to Folly Lane, aiming to keep up a superb record which has seen them lose only one of 12 North-West Counties League division one matches so far.