Good to be home again
Date published: 08 March 2011
Photo: Chris Sunderland
TWO players bring down David Cookson of Oldham St Anne’s.
AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE: SADDLEWORTH Rangers made up for lost time by seeing off Wath Brow in National Conference League Premier Division — the club’s first home game in three-and-a-half months.
Cold weather and waterlogging had been responsible for a clutch of fixtures at Greenfield falling by the wayside.
But Keith Brennan’s men showed just how good it was to be back on home soil with a resounding 32-10 win over the Cumbrian side.
A third game without a loss, it moves Rangers further away from trouble at the bottom end of the table — and could even, possibly, have some at the club dreaming of a play-off finish.
Winger Adam Jeffrey got the first try, goaled by man-of-the-match Michael Coates, before the Hornets hit back with a Craig Johnstone effort.
Rangers took control before the break thanks to tries from Jack Brennan and another for Jeffrey, earning a 14-4 lead at the halfway point.
Strong-running Matt Bottom piled over nine minutes after half-time, Coates adding the extras.
Scott Pink got one back for Wath Brow, Johnstone adding a goal, but further tries arrived from the home team through Gareth Morgan and James Whalley, with Coates adding two more goals.
MYTON Warriors made it five matches unbeaten in Division One with a hard-fought 28-10 victory at Oldham St Anne’s.
Prop forward Allan Dunham slid home for the opening try after a bundle of
penalties conceded by the home side. Ash James added the conversion.
Though Saints battled back well — man-of-the-match David Cookson, Chris Worth and Jordan White all impressed — the destination of the points hinged on the two minutes before half-time when Myton extended their lead to 18-0.
Firstly, Lee Fewlass crossed and Richard Dunham then capitalised on a fumble to stroll home, James adding goals to both scores.
Cookson was held up over the line prior to Danny Kay crossing in the corner for St Anne’s.
But Mark Spence responded with a Warriors try and, though Jonathan Kelly got one back for St Anne’s, Kiel Lancashire converting, the last word went to Spence, whose second of the game was again improved by James’s boot.
