Magic Mayall spurs Saints
Date published: 25 February 2009
stop there: Anthony Mellor and Ashley Caveney, of Waterhead under-16s, get to grips with a Langworthy Reds opponent.
KYLE Mayall celebrated his England call-up in fine style picking up 26 points to keep Oldham St Anne’s under-15s at the top of the North-West Counties League division one table.
Promotion-hunting Saints defeated Thatto Heath 42-0 at home to edge two points ahead of rivals Waterhead, who have a game in hand, at the helm.
Try-scorers on the day were Jarrod Ward (two), Mayall (three), Nick Ryan and Nathan Hughes, with Mayall also kicking seven goals for St Anne’s.
WATERHEAD under-15s ran up a 58-0 total against rivals Saddleworth Rangers to make it through both to the third round of the North-West Counties Cup and the final of the Oldham Cup.
This was a clash between two sides who have enjoyed terrific seasons. Waterhead are second in division one, having only lost once all season, while Rangers had previously won all eight league matches to lead the way in division three.
But a 12-try show from a Waterhead side containing too much power and pace across the team saw them through to a NWC Cup round three tie at home to premier division Wigan St Patrick’s this coming weekend.
Try scorers were hat-trick pair Jake Shoel and Jonathon Fouldes, plus Daniel Yates (two), Jack Cooke (two), Josh Johnson and Adam Steeple, with Ben Whitehead kicking five conversions.
Jordan Hanley’s hat-trick helped Waterhead under-16s claim a 28-28 draw at Langworthy Reds.
Jordan Curtis and Anthony Mellor were the other scorers, Mellor also kicking four conversions, as Waterhead picked up two points on the day.
SHAW Rhinos under-15s enjoyed their away day at local rivals Fitton Hill, winning the encounter 46-10.
In an outstanding team effort, John Botham — scorer of two tries and five goals — was man-of-the-match, while there were also fine displays from Ben Jackson and Josh Folley.
The other try scorers for Shaw were James Allott (three), Samuel Bentley (two), George Dyson and Johnny Pertoldi.
Super Saddleworth ruin Sharks record
SADDLEWORTH RANGERS under-14s came up with a superb effort to win 28-24 against North-West Counties League premier division leaders Rylands Sharks — a side previously unbeaten for two seasons.
Ben White was first on the scoresheet for the home team, before Rylands responded with a pair of converted scores down the middle of the park.
Hard-working Chris Bolton then forced his way over on the right hand side before winger Tom Rice crossed on the opposite side, White converting to give Rangers a 16-12 half-time lead.
Two scores for the visitors put them 24-16 ahead before Galbraith worked his magic to score two superb individual tries — the latter of which was a last-minute match-winner, converted by White.
Full-back Lewis Ralph won the coaches’ award, Lewis Connor claimed the defence award and the hard-working Bobby Crossley was man-of-the-match for Saddleworth.
Rangers under-16s won 32-22 at New Spring Lions to secure a mouth-watering title decider at home to rivals Leigh Miners Rangers this weekend.
Whichever of those sides wins will claim the North-West Counties League division two championship.
Rangers improved on their previous week’s performance but failed to shake off a spirited home side until they scored twice in the final few minutes.
For the third week in a row, in-form prop Lewis Hough was man-of-the-match, tearing holes in the Lions defence time and again, Michael Pursey at centre had his best game of the season and Michael Tattersall was impressive at hooker.
Try-scorers were Tattersall (two), Francis (two), Jewitt and Chadwick, while Tattersall kicked four goals.
Perfect 10 as Rangers take title
WITH two games to spare, Saddleworth Rangers under-13s clinched the North-West Counties third division title in superb style by recording a 10th successive victory at Leyland Warriors.
Though the game finished 28-8 in Rangers’ favour, it was tight at the break.
Cameron Whitley’s try, converted by Cameron Matthews, put Saddleworth ahead before two Leyland tries turned it round for the home side, who entered the second period 8-6 up.
After that, though, Saddleworth hit back in great style with a hat-trick of tries from Joseph Harrison-Brown, all starting from deep within his own half. Matthews converted all three and grabbed a try himself.
Dominic D’Adamo was voted man-of-the-match, with Cameron Robertson collecting the coaches’ award and Whitley named as top defenceman.
Eagles on high
A STOP-START game between Higginshaw’s under-14s and West Bank Bears ended up going in the favour of the Eagles, who triumphed 20-8.
Higgy opened up the game with a try on the first set of six, Callum Deakin scoring, before Josh Queenan’s strong bust through three defenders helped take the score to 12-0.
A West Bank try came before the break but when Elliott White went over from dummy half, before Queenan flew over for his second following a series of good passes, the game was safe.
