Saddleworth look on the bright side — despite rout

SADDLEWORTH Rangers coach Keith Brennan believes his side can take plenty out of their 88-0 Challenge Cup hammering at Widnes Vikings.

The home team ran in 15 unanswered tries to make it through, as expected, to the fourth round of the competition at Rangers’ expense.

But while the full-time outfit had far too much pace, skill and power for the amateurs Brennan was in upbeat and realistic paying tribute to the way the Vikings ruthlessly went about their task while also admitting that his own team, at times, didn’t help themselves.

“It was a good lesson for us and the lads enjoyed it,” said Brennan, who saw his team conceded 15 penalties compared to just three awarded, he first of which didn’t arrive until after the hour.

“In the first half, they were a bit overawed and it was like a rabbit in the headlights.

“Second half, they got stuck a fair crack at them.

“The lads said they couldn’t believe how many men they had running at them at times – which is what being in a full-time environment does for you.

“To be fair in the first half, I wouldn’t say we matched them but we held our own up the middle and they scored out wide. But some of the tries were down to our mistakes as well, and you can’t make errors like we did against a team like that in your own half.

“In the second half we got into some good field position and had a go at them.

“I have no doubt that Widnes will do a similar job on a side in their own division this year. They were frightening at times.”

It took the home side only five minutes to get the scoring underway at the Stobart Stadium, though Dean Gaskell’s opener came after the visitors had conceded a pair of quickfire penalties to piggy-back the Vikings downfield.

Oldhamer Gavin Dodd then went in for the first of his double off James Webster’s delicate kick to the corner.Rangers enjoyed their first real foray downfield when Loz Wildbore fumbled Michael Coates’s booming kick downfield – the stand-off was excellent with the boot all afternoon – but on only the second tackle the ball was dropped. Rangers weren’t making things any easier for themselves.

Further tries before the break followed for Jim Gannon, Dodd, Matt Strong and a pair for Richard Varkulis, with Tim Hartley landing a perfect eight out of eight goals for a 48-0 half-time lead.

Saddleworth regrouped at half-time and enjoyed their best spell of the game up until around the hour. Shaun Robinson went close for Saddleworth with a burst down the left before Mark Smith crashed over from dummy-half and the next effort from Wildbore – which came on the back of two more penalties conceded, the second of which was for dissent – was contested by a number of Rangers players who felt the player was held up before the line.

Hartley then crossed for a try and after Smith had got his second on 66 minutes, Saddleworth players were penalised for straying offside at the kick-off. A harsh judgement when you are already 70-0 down.

There was still time for more tries from Wildbore, Sam Thompson and Smith, completing his hat-trick, while Hartley ended up with a personal tally of 32 points.

“I am very proud of our lads,” Brennan added. “We spoke before the game about how we earned the right to be here and how important it was for them to go out and enjoy themselves. There is a lot to take out of it for us.”

Widnes: Wildbore; Gaskell, Hartley, Grady, Dodd; Thackeray, Webster; Ostick, Smith, Gannon, Simm, Varkulis, Doran. Subs: Kavanagh, Strong, Thompson, Mullally.

Tries: Gaskell (5), Dodd (10, 26), Gannon (16), Ostick (19), Strong (32), Varkulis (37, 40), Smith (50, 66, 79), Wildbore (54, 72), Hartley (63), Thompson (77).

Goals: Hartley 14/15

Saddleworth: Attersall; Coley, Whalley, Lever, Robinson; M Coates, Charlesworth; Hall, L Coates, Walker, Walters, Parrish, Jackman. Subs: Lowe, Davies, Jeffries, Brennan.

Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow (St Helens). Att: 1,786