Away-day relief for Cashin’s Saints

Johnson stars in long-awaited win
RUGBY LEAGUE: ERIC Johnson was the star of the show as Oldham St Anne’s picked up a first away win of the season in National Conference League Division One.

The 20-18 triumph at Castleford Panthers leapfrogged Mick Cashin’s men above their opponents and up to eighth in the table — out of danger, at least for now, with four matches of the season remaining.

“It is a monkey off our backs to get that first away victory, but it has been coming in the last few weeks,” Cashin said.

“It ended up being a very tight game, but it was one that we definitely deserved to win.”

Johnson, playing at loose forward in a stand-out pack, registered two tries on a good afternoon for St Anne’s.

Panthers took an early lead, despite losing Sam Waite to the sin-bin, when Luke Varley crossed, Jamie Benn adding a goal.

St Anne’s recovered from the blow of losing Jordan White to injury and Kiel Lancashire — who switched to scrum-half in the reshuffle — kicked a 40-20 which allowed Johnson to split the defence open and claim a superb individual try which Lancashire converted.

A Benn penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the home team a slender 8-6 lead.

Saints turned that around after the break when Dominic Igoe and Danny Kay created space for Lancashire to race home from 30 yards, converting his own try.

Benn then crossed with Chris Knowles converting to nudge the home team in front again.

But Luke Wallace and Johnson ran in further unconverted tries for St Anne’s.

And the visitors held on despite Knowles scrambling in at the corner only for his conversion attempt to drift wide.


Waterhead slip
WATERHEAD were unable to halt Hunslet Warriors’ promotion charge, losing 26-16 at home to the Division Two champions elect.

The south Leeds side went two converted tries up through efforts from Chris Hartley and substitute Karl Featherstone, full-back Gary McClelland kicking both goals.

Substitute Matthew Bland responded for Garry Highton’s men to make it 12-4 at half-time, giving Waterhead a foothold in the game.

Warriors winger Aaron Niles was next to score, with Craig Highton responding in kind and Terry Fitzgerald’s conversion of the latter put Waterhead within six points of the high-flyers.

But the Hunslet side then took control to record tries through Hartley and Featherstone, McClelland converting once.

An Ash Wildman try and Fitzgerald goal reduced the deficit, but Waterhead could not get within reach and are now third-bottom of the division.


SADDLEWORTH Rangers were without a fixture in NCL Premier Division.