Saints closing in

OLDHAM St Anne’s, riding high in division two of the National Conference League, are hot on the heels of Saddleworth Rangers in the Rugby Oldham Amateur Club Challenge.

Saints climbed up to second place in the table after an impressive 56-12 victory at Egremont Rangers.

Kiel Lancashire was the chief destroyer, touching down twice and registering eight goals in an impressive display from Mick Cashin’s in-form side.

Rangers still lead the way despite nursing their wounds from a 35-16 defeat at Millom, who have made a habit of upsetting the front-runners in division one this season.

Rochdale Cobras are close up in third place, with Higginshaw not too far adrift after a 26-4 defeat of Rochdale Mayfield in division four of the North-West Counties League. See report.

But Waterhead slipped further behind in the race for local bragging rights after they went down to a 30-16 defeat at home to Eccles in NCL division two.

Hollinwood, who are bottom of the table, were without a fixture in the Pennine League.