Promotion wait goes on for Rangers

TOP PERFORMER: Mick Coates earned praise from Saddleworth Rangers coach Keith Brennan.

AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE:

FINGERNAILS continue to be bitten at Saddleworth Rangers, who must now wait to discover their ultimate fate this season.

Keith Brennan’s men produced a good fightback away at Myton Warriors but weren’t able to turn round an 18-2 half-time deficit, losing 25-18.

The result means the Greenfield outfit, currently sitting in third place in National Conference League division one, are left looking towards the remaining results of Normanton.

The only side that can overhaul Rangers in the third promotion place, the Knights have four matches left — starting tomorrow night at home to Heworth — and are currently six points adrift with an inferior points difference.

Normanton’s other fixtures pit them away at Myton on Monday night and they also travel to play Thornhill two days later before taking on champions Thatto Heath — again away from home — a week on Saturday.

“It is really disappointing,” said Brennan, who praised the efforts of playmaking pair Michael Coates and man-of-the-match Adam Kirwan, plus substitute Chris Conway.

“We were poor in the first half and though we recovered after the break it wasn’t enough.
“We wanted to go up on our own terms and now there is nothing we can do except sit back and wait.”

A Coates penalty gave Rangers an early lead in Hull, but Myton hit back with first-half tries from Mike Johnson, Richard Dun-ham and Lee Fewlass plus three Ash James conversions.

Johnson then crossed for his second shortly after half-time, James adding the extras to seemingly seal it for the Warriors.

But Rangers stormed back, and tries by Matt Bottom, Chris Conway and Shaun Robinson were added to by a pair of Coates conversions.

Myton had the final word when Kris Walker slotted home a drop goal with eight minutes to go.


Standard Cup DVD

A DVD of the 2010 Standard Cup final between Higginshaw and Saddleworth Rangers, played on Good Friday at Oldham RUFC, is available for purchase.

Copies are priced at £2 each and can be ordered through Ronnie Walton on (0161) 2900012 or the Oldham Amateur League assistant secretary Phil Bradbury on (0161) 2843728.