Saints snatch dramatic success

Kiel Lancashire’s last-minute penalty goal snatched a dramatic 34-32 win for Oldham St Anne’s at Bradford Dudley Hill in National Conference League division one.

The result, which came about as a consequence of an excellent all-round performance from Mick Cashin’s young side, lifts Saints to ninth in the table.

Paul Ashton opened the scoring off half-back partner Rick Badby’s kick, but by the end of the first quarter the home side had established a lead through tries from Danny Thomas and Nathan Kitson, with Simon Sewell adding the goals.

The visitors then battled back and Ryan Blake, Graeme Sykes and John Fox were all held up short before David Cookson’s superb solo effort, goaled by Ashton, brought St Anne’s to within four points at half-time.

Sewell extended that lead with a penalty goal in front of the posts before Ashton and Thomas spent 10 minutes in the sin bin following an altercation.

Saints adapted the better and drew level when Australian substitute Kyle Debreceny scored, Lancashire adding the goal, before Cookson’s pass set in Lancashire for a try which he converted for a 28-20 lead on the hour.

Kitson’s try and Sewell’s conversion cut into the advantage before Sewell levelled with a penalty.

The home side then edged in front when Paul Gledhill scored but, with time running out, Badby took three men with him over the line to draw level. Lancashire’s kick drifted wide — but there was still more drama to unfold.

A strong wind prevented the ball going the required distance from the resulting kick-off and from the penalty awarded to Saints, Lancashire used the conditions to his advantage by sailing home the kick from halfway to win the game.




SADDLEWORTH Rangers’ wretched home form in the league continued as they were defeated 14-6 by high-flying Ince Rose Bridge.



Keith Brennan’s men last won at Shaw Hall Bank Road on September 27 of last year, against Eastmoor Dragons.

After exchanging a couple of early penalties through Ince’s Danny Rigby and Rangers’ Michael Coates, the visitors went ahead with the only try of the game a minute before the break, winger Mark Sanby profiting from confusion following Ryan Baker’s grubber kick. Rigby converted for a 10-4 lead.

Another Rigby goal five minutes after the break extended the advantage in a tight game and though Michael Coates landed his third successful goal just after the hour, it wasn’t enough to influence the result.

Rigby sealed the game with a penalty four minutes from time.




TERRY Fitzgerald’s last minute try helped Waterhead to a 22-20 home win over East Leeds in division two, putting paid to the visitors’ hopes of ending a seven-match losing run.



Dave Green’s try, converted by Steve Parnell, had given the West Yorkshire side an early lead but Waterhead hit back through scores from Ashley Wildman and Alan Williamson, both of which Fitzgerald added to for a 12-6 half-time advantage.

East Leeds dominated the third quarter and Lee Fisher and Green both went over for tries which Parnell converted.

The home side roared back to score through Michael Diveny, John Mitchell goaling to level the scores. A Parnell penalty goal with five minutes left looked to have won it, but for Fitzgerald outpacing the Leeds cover to score with the game’s final attack.