Saints give champions a scare

Amateur Rugby League

A PAIR of good performances by local sides in National Conference League division one came too little, too late to affect the outcome of the teams’ respective campaigns.

Relegated Oldham St Anne’s gave champions Wath Brow a big fright on their own turf before being edged out 28-24 and will hope to take their end-of-season renaissance with them into division two next season.

Saddleworth Rangers, meanwhile, finished off with a 32-19 home win over Millom which lifts the side to a finishing position of fourth, one place and four points away from a promotion spot.

Saints took the lead up in Cumbria when Rick Badby chipped through for half-back partner Steve McHugh to score, Lee Forsythe adding the goal.

The hosts were back on terms in front of a large crowd when loose forward Scott Teare crossed, Ryan Robb goaling, but on the half-hour Saints were ahead again when full-back Darren Fletcher rounded his opposite number with Forsythe again on target.

Mickey McAllister reduced the arrears to 12-10 at half-time and Wath Brow moved ahead through a James Toman try, converted by Robb.

Saints then fell further behind to Gary Elliott and Kevin Thompson tries, Robb adding the extras.

Howerver, the visitors mounted a rally and David Cookson latched on to Forsythe’s chip to score.

Forsythe crossed in the corner off English’s pass but despite two more Forsythe conversions bring the score to within four points, the champions clung on.

Saddleworth were in danger of going down to a home defeat before a last-quarter comeback overturned a 19-18 score in Millom’s favour.

Marlon Miller, who had been sin-binned, scored on his return to the field to put Rangers back in front with Michael Coates converting. Two more Coates goal, one a conversion from an Adam Walker try, settled the game in Saddleworth’s favour.

Winger Shaun Robinson and scrum-half Chris Garforth had scored for the home side in the first half with tries for the visitors from Graham Lupton and Elliott Miller plus two goals from James Newton and a drop goal from Anthony Dixon giving Millom a 13-12 lead as the sides switched ends.

Man-of-the-match Marlon Miller and Tom Sibley exchanged converted tries in the second half before the late drama.