Second-half display earns Cashin praise

RUGBY LEAGUE: OLDHAM St Anne’s coach Mick Cashin was pleased with the way his team battled back to give Hull Dockers a fright, before succumbing to a first-round Carnegie Challenge Cup defeat.

Saints were trailing 24-0 at half-time following a very slick performance from the National Conference League Premier Division side at Higginshaw Road.

And a try scored and converted by Karl Smith at the start of the second period made things worse for Cashin’s side. But St Anne’s dug deep and hit back strongly.

Greg Worrall produced an excellent solo effort on the hour mark which Kiel Lancashire converted.

Then Jordan White — sin-binned in the opening minutes for holding down after a try-saving tackle — went in under the posts, with Lancashire repeating the trick.

Substitute Alex Eyres also produced a try to leave Dockers wobbling, but they were ultimately able to hang on for a 30-16 win.

Robbie Smith and Jon Eccles took advantage of Docker’s early numerical supremacy, the former converting twice. Martin Johnson then crashed over and Kalum Birch did likewise, with Smith converting both.


WATERHEAD’S scheduled Challenge Cup first-round game at home to Egremont Rangers was called off due to a frozen pitch.