Battling Rangers back on course for promotion

LONE RANGER . . . Saddleworth’s Matthew Bottom looks for support following a run deep into Normanton’s territory.

SADDLEWORTH Rangers coach Keith Brennan was delighted with the way his team battled their way to two vital points against Normanton Knights.

Following two successive defeats, top-of-the-table Rangers were back on home soil needing to win to keep alive their hopes of the National Conference League division one title — and promotion to the premier division.

Despite a penalty count which was 17-5 in Normanton's favour, that is exactly what they managed, Rangers running out 14-4 winners against opposition also hopeful of a top-three finish.

"Everyone stood up and they had to," said Brennan, who praised man-of-the-match Shaun Robinson for his superb kicking and also the efforts of Michael Coates.

In front of a big crowd at Shaw Hall Bank Road, Saddleworth opened the scoring when Tom Kilgannon crossed after three minutes following a slick pass in the tackle from Matthew Bottom.

Michael Coates converted and it stayed at 6-0 until half-time.

Normanton responded with a Johnny Kirk try after 50 minutes, leaving Rangers' lead at a precarious 6-4.

Danny Adams gave the home team breathing space when he collected a high Michael Coates kick to score, Coates also converting with 10 minutes remaining.

And a Coates penalty on full-time sealed the win for Saddleworth, who must now focus on the Standard Cup final against Higginshaw on Good Friday at Oldham RUFC before taking on Castleford Panthers in the league a day later.


IT was a day of disappointment for Oldham St Anne's, who must wait until this weekend to try to wrap up promotion to division one.

Mick Cashin's men lost 22-18 at Stanley Rangers — a match which, had they won, would have seen Saints promoted.

As it is, they must now pick up two points at home to Castleford Lock Lane at Higginshaw Road this Saturday to seal a top-three finish.

"We were disappointed with the tries we conceded, but other than that we are not disheartened," said Cashin, who praised the efforts of John Fox and Danny Kay.

Saints outscored their opponents by three tries to two, but it was Danny Grice's six goals and two drop goals which did the damage.

Kay's first-half try and two Kiel Lancashire goals in the first half put St Anne's ahead before Grice pounced on the half-hour to score a try he also converted.

Stanley then stole the ball in a one-on-one tackle, winger Danny Gaunt crossing and Grice adding a goal and a one-pointer to see his team into the break 13-8 ahead.

A Grice penalty followed before the division's leading try scorer David Harris ran in his 19th of the season, Lancashire's goal attempt drifting wide.

Saints had two tries by Kay and Terry Whalley disallowed due to infringements in the build-up and Grice slotted his second drop-goal.

Fox then gave St Anne's the lead when he forced his way over for a Lancashire-goaled try, but with 10 minutes left the sin-binning of Chris Carter preceded three Grice penalties, handing Stanley the points.



Waterhead, missing several first-team players due to acting coach Paul Geener's stag party in Skegness, produced a promising display in a 31-24 defeat at Eastmoor Dragons.

With a side topped up with 'A' team players, the visitors went behind in the first half with tries from Stephen Harber, Leigh Joyce and Ashley Allman and two Joyce goals.

Waterhead responded in style with a try from Kaden Connolly-Green, converted by Chris Godfrey, before Greg Wilby's try gave Eastmoor a 20-6 half-time advantage.

Michael Brown's try and Godfrey's goal closed the game as Waterhead grew in confidence.

Darren Sykes and Adrian Mulcahy increased the Dragons' lead before Brown's second of the game and one for Neil Bradbury — both converted by Godfrey — gave Waterhead hope.

The gap was down to one converted score and with Eastmoor hanging on, a last-minute Mulcahy drop-goal sealed the points.