Nixon keeps Waterhead in the hunt

IT TAKES FOUR: to stop Higginshaw’s Guy Harvey during his team’s 54-18 home defeat at the hands of Langworthy. Report in Thursday’s Oldham Evening Chronicle.

AMATEUR RUGBY: DARREN Nixon's second try of the game settled Waterhead nerves and put the team into a position to qualify from Group ‘E’ in the National Conference Interim season.

The Peach Road side had to work hard for their 38-28 win at Eccles, a side depleted by injuries. The result moves the team up to second spot, ahead of rivals Oldham St Anne's in third, on points difference.

Craig Highton scored during Waterhead's first attack, Carl Sneyd converting, before Eccles hit back with a Mike O'Boyle effort that was added to by Tom Warburton.

The home side went over again through O'Boyle, while Adam Taher also crossed, those tries answered by a pair from Waterhead by Nixon and Mick Diveney to bring the deficit down to 18-16 at half-time.

Williamson's try and a Sneyd goal edged the visitors in front before Taher went over again, Warburton goaling.

Scott Owen's try was equalised by Matty Gilligan to make the game all-square at 28-28.

But tries by Diveney and Nixon sealed the points.


CROSFIELDS saw off St Anne's 36-20 on home soil. Tries by Matt Pitt (two), Phil Bannon and Ben Thompson, all converted by Mark Smith, gave the Warrington side a 24-14 advantage at half-time. Saints' tries arrived through Sean Stubbs, Terry Whalley and Kiel Lancashire, Lee Forsythe converting once.
Greg Worrall reduced the gap to a mere four points in the second half. But Pitt's hat-trick score, goaled by Smith, provided comfort and Michael Johnson's try and Smith's goal finished off the game.


SADDLEWORTH Rangers lost for a fith time in six matches, going down 53-16 at Rochdale Mayfield in Group C.
Former St Anne's hooker Eric Johnson was chief tormentor in the opening half, helping his side to a 21-0 lead comprising tries by Andy Lee, Ben Naumatua, Ieuan Higgs and Sean Snape and a pair of conversions and a drop goal from Aidy Gleeson.

Adam Walker was sent off for allegedly punching to leave Rangers a man down, but the visitors nonetheless came back with Jack Bradbury crossing and converting.

Naumatua and Snape both doubled their individual try tallies and Bradbury responded again with an effort he also converted.

But when Matt Bottom was sin-binned for Rangers, Mayfield took advantage against 11 men to run home tries from Simon Moore, Higgs and Johnson, before Marlon Miller's late consolation.