Second-half show stuns Knights
Date published: 09 November 2010
PATIENCE paid off as Oldham St Anne’s staged a fine second-half comeback to deny Normanton Knights a first away win of the season in Division One of the National Conference League.
The basement boys led 8-0 at half-time but the home side, with three tries in quick succession, turned the game on its head to eventually clinch a 27-12 win.
The victory, which maintained Saints’ 100-per-cent record at Higginshaw Road, was achieved with only 12 men as Andy Sands was sent off jut before the break.
Saints coach Mick Cashin said: “We were guilty of trying to snatch a try in the first half — we dropped the ball over the line three times — and we also didn’t complete ours sets.
“I told the lads at half-time to be patient and, credit to them, they responded with a good effort. The boys from the bench also deserve praise as they played their part as well.
“We need to start winning away from home now. We go to Widnes St Maries on Saturday, but that won’t be easy as they are piling up the points.”
Strong performances from Lee Starbuck, Dave Dunwell and Johnny Wheeldon put lowly Normanton in the driving seat.
And when Saints duo Dave Harris and Darren Fletcher failed to control the ball over the try-line, it did not look as though it was going to be the hosts’ day.
It went from bad to worse for Saints with the dismissal of prop Sands for allegedly throwing a punch just before the break.
However, Cashin’s team-talk worked the oracle.
A three-try blitz in the opening 10 minutes of the second half put Saints in the ascendancy.
First up was Kiel Lancashire, who broke free from an attempted tackle to goal his own try, and when the ball went out on the full from the restart, Saints took advantage and David Harris produced a stunning effort in the corner. Lancashire added the extras.
Lancashire put another two points on the board after a Greg Worrall touchdown.
On the hour, Normanton’s man-of-the-match Dunwell reduced the deficit with a well-taken try.
But a Lancashire penalty and a drop goal from scrum-half Jordan White gave the home side some breathing space.
With four minutes remaining, the game was made safe when winger Jon Kelly squeezed in at the corner, with Lancashire landing his fifth goal from as many attempts.
o THE Standard Cup first-round tie between hosts Saddleworth Rangers and Oldham St Anne’s will take place next Tuesday, and not this Thursday as previously stated.
