Good show

STAR MAN: Jordan White, of Oldham St Anne’s, looks for a gap in the Bentley Good Companions line.

RUGBY:

First round ties await local sides
OLDHAM St Anne’s and Waterhead made smooth progress into the first round proper of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Saints swept aside Bentley Good Companions 40-4, while Waterhead were too good for Hull University. See story below.

The weather at Higginshaw Road was far removed from the frost and snow which had caused two previous attempts to be postponed.

With the sun on their backs, Saints went ahead in the third minute when stand-off Jordan White sent centre Dave Harris in at the corner. White added the goal.

Hooker Mark Lees then embarked on a 50-metre cross-field run to extend their lead, before man-of-the-match White was involved again. He gathered his own overhead kick to send in Chris Carter, before kicking the goal.

And he sent the ball sailing through the posts once more after substitute Michael Wallace had got in on the act.

When full-back Lee Forsythe went over for Saints’ fifth try to make the score 26-0 on the half-hour mark, the tie was as good as over.

Bentley were well-served by centre Chris Wrigglesworth, hooker Scott Smith and prop Chris Hemmings but despite having three penalties on the 10m line, they were unable to break the Saints defence.

The second half started with that man White floating a kick to the corner, where sub Neil Collins won the race to the line.

Prop Michael Cadd then drove through the visitors’ line to collect a deserved try, with Forsythe landing the goal from the touchline.

Greg Worrall took Saints up to the 40-point mark on the hour mark as the Bentley line was breached for an eighth time.

The Doncaster outfit never gave up and their large travelling support finally had something to shout about when, with five minutes to go, stand-off Craig Whincop strolled through to score in the corner.

Saints are back in Challenge Cup action on Saturday when they visit National Conference League Division One rivals Hunslet Warriors.