Rangers rack up the points

ON the charge: Higginshaw’s Carl Fields makes the hard yards against Rochdale Cobras.

AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE: SADDLEWORTH Rangers scored over a century of points in two matches at the weekend to keep alive their bid for glory on two fronts.

Keith Brennan’s side hammered Heworth 80-0 at Shaw Hall Bank Road on Saturday to remain top of National Conference League division one, before defeating Oldham St Anne’s 35-4 at Higginshaw Road 24 hours later to move into the Standard Cup final.

There they will face Higginshaw — 38-16 home winners over Rochdale Cobras in the other last-four tie — on Good Friday, April 2. The game will be played at Manor Park, home to Oldham RUFC ( 11am kick-off).

Saddleworth’s Standard Cup win over a young St Anne’s line-up came about despite the home team enjoying much of the possession in the early stages.

Saints, though, couldn’t convert it into points, whereas Rangers’ excursions downfield yielded tries from Tom Lever and Shaun Robinson, Michael Coates adding the conversions for a 12-0 lead.

Josh Brown and Danny Adams also crossed for Saddleworth, Coates adding another conversion.

Saints didn’t throw in the towel and the visitors’ man-of-the-match Peter Deakin was held up over the line.

But the pressure continued and further scores came from Stephen Nield and Adams, Rangers’ man-of-the-match Coates converting both, before St Anne’s registered a try through Darren Fletcher.

Matthew Bottom added a late drop-goal for Saddleworth.

“We had nine second team lads and two under-18s players out there and they did very well for us,” said Saints coach Mick Cashin.

“Their efforts have given me plenty of food for thought.”

Higginshaw, of North-West Counties League division four, defeated the division five Cobras side thanks to a powerful attacking display.

Paul Brooks was first over for the home team, Jonathan Fullalove converting.

Man-of-the-match Carl Fields then sliced through and when winger Mark Ward crossed just after the half-hour, Fullalove adding the extras to both efforts, Higgy were 18-0 up.

The Rochdale side reacted with a converted try from prop Lee Moore but a Fullalove penalty made it 20-6 at half-time.

The Cobras stepped up a gear after the break and loose forward Netani Suka stormed over for another converted effort, only for Scott Foote to race home with Fullalove converting.

Ward then went over in the corner, Fullalove adding a penalty, before Foote’s try and another Fullalove two-pointer put Higginshaw 38-12 up.

And though the Cobras hit back with a late consolation, it wasn’t enough.

On Saturday, Saddleworth put visitors Heworth to the sword in the league.

A clinical display from the home team saw them run up a 34-point lead by half-time. Emerson Jackman (two), Shaun Robinson (two), Ethan Langhorn (two), Danny Lowe, Liam Coates, Michael Coates, Gareth Davies, Junior Brandford, Adam Kirwan, Tom Lever and man-of-the-match Adam Walker got the tries, with Michael Coates and Langhorn kicking seven goals apiece.

St Anne’s enjoyed better fortunes in the previous day’s Conference fixture, winning 30-18 at Shaw Cross to stay firmly in second spot in division two, snapping at the heels of leaders Eccles.

Tries came from Dane English, Lee Forsyth, Danny Chrimes, Jordan White and Dave Harris, with Kiel Lancashire kicking seven goals against an improving Shaw Cross team.

Elsewhere in division two, Waterhead won 34-28 at home against Crosfields to climb out of the bottom three.

The home team played the more fluent rugby throughout, scoring tries through Terry Fitzgerald, Martin Sarsfield, Craig Highton (two), Rory Freek and Matthew Barron, Sean Garrett kicking three goals and Mick Diveney two.