Defeat puts Saints down a division

AN AWAY defeat to West Bowling confirmed the inevitable for Oldham St Anne’s, who are relegated to National Conference League division two.

The 58-12 defeat ensures that Mick Cashin’s side can no longer climb out of the bottom three, a position the team has occupied for much of the latter half of the season due to a slump in form.

The home team took the lead in only the second minute through a Gareth Cullington try, converted by Lee Innes, before Saints hit back through a try from David Cookson which was added to by the boot of Kiel Lancashire.

Up to the 25th minute the visitors were competing well, but three tries in quick succession from Adam Crompton, Aaran Chappell and Andrew Senior came about as a result of some poor defending and at 22-6 down at half-time, St Anne’s had it all to do.

The flow of tries continued for West Bowling on the resumption of play, despite the best efforts of Saints captain and man-of-the-match Rick Badby.

Crompton, James Dewhirst (two), Cullington and Damian Smith all went over before the hour mark.

In the final quarter, Saints managed to cross twice through Ryan Blake and Darren Fletcher, plus a conversion from Chris Conway, but it was too little too late.

Saints are in action at home to Ince Rose Bridge on Tuesday night (7pm kick off).


SADDLEWORTH Rangers kept alive their slim promotion hopes with a 26-6 victory away at bottom club Shaw Cross Sharks in division one.

Early Rangers tries from Fraser Coley and Shaun Robinson were answered by a Chris Jones effort before full-back Tom Lever increased the lead, Michael Coates adding a conversion.

Chris Renton struck a penalty to reduce the deficit to 14-6 at half-time, but Saddleworth finally broke clear 12 minutes from time.

Rangers substitute Liam Coates forced his way over and there was still time for a further try from Marlon Miller, Michael Coates converting.

Saddleworth have an away fixture at Stanningley on Tuesday evening (8pm) and must win all four remaining games and hope that third-placed Widnes St Marie’s lose at Oldham St Anne’s on Saturday, to claim the last promotion spot.


HEWORTH clinched promotion from division two after coming from behind to win 44-24 away at Waterhead.

The home side were 18-16 up at the break, getting their points through tries from prop Mark Leyden (two), Alan Williamson and Mickey Diveney, who added a conversion.

Liam Cochrane, Paul Thompson and Jon Coulson had claimed Heworth’s first-half tries, Carl Potter adding the first of his eight conversions, before the York side went 22-18 up thanks to a converted try from Marcus Allen.

Further tries followed through Adrian Leek, Sean Brough and Chris Smith, with Waterhead’s response coming through Leyden, completing his hat-trick, with Terry Fitzgerald converting.