Rangers are in seventh heaven
Date published: 12 October 2009
SADDLEWORTH Rangers and Oldham St Anne’s are riding high in the National Conference League.
A 26-12 defeat of nearest rivals Thornhill Trojans stretched Rangers’ lead in division one to four points, while Saints’ superb 24-12 victory over Stanley Rangers in another top of the table clash saw them climb to the summit of division two.
And, not to be outdone, Waterhead made it a hat-trick of wins with a narrow 24-22 defeat of Shaw Cross Sharks.
Rangers were well on their way to maintaining their 100-per-cent record — this was their seventh straight win — by the half-time interval.
They led 16-0 thanks to tries from full-back Tom Lever and Ben Walters and four Michael Coates goals, including two penalties.
Danny Early extended Rangers’ advantage after the restart, before Trojans replied with a converted try of their own to get on the scoreboard for the first time.
But the home side were soon back in the ascendancy as Walters touched down, with Coates adding the extras.
Trojans crossed for another converted try, but Rangers would not give way again.
n ST ANNE’S powered to the top of the table at the expense of previously unbeaten Stanley Rangers at Higginshaw Road.
Saints went ahead through captain Danny Kay, who burrowed his way over from dummy half, after the visitors had nailed a first-minute penalty.
Kay grabbed his second try moments later, with Keil Lancashire adding the conversion.
But Saints also proved effective in defence as well as attack, keeping Stanley at bay in four sets of six.
It was case of deja vu at the start of the second half as Stanley scored a try within a minute of the referee’s whistle. And worse was to follow for Saints, who conceded another try — this time converted — straight from the restart to fall 12-10 behind.
Stanley were again applying the pressure at the end of the third quarter when a stray pass was gathered by substitute John Gillam, who raced in from 70 yards. Lancashire converted before adding a penalty.
It was then left to David Cookson to secure Saints the points when he took three defenders over the whitewash. Lancashire added his fourth goal of the afternoon.
n WATERHEAD had to withstand a Shaw Cross Sharks fightback to carry on their winning ways.
Mick Slicker’s side led 24-10 in the second half, only for Sharks to mount a comeback that so nearly left the local side empty handed.
Waterhead’s tries came from Terry Fitzgerald (two), Nick Johnson, Ashley Wildman and Craig Highton, while Mick Diveny added two goals.
