Second-half blitz rocks Saints

RUGBY:

OLDHAM St Anne’s conceded five second-half tries as they were beaten 32-10 at York Acorn in National Conference League Division One.

In a clumsy opening, both sides were guilty of spilling possession and conceding too many penalties.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 25th minute when York’s Jordan Hyde palmed the ball back for full-back Steve Mackley to touch down in the corner.

Saints were level five minutes before half-time. Paul Ashmore was held up just short of the line on the left, the ball was quickly switched to the opposite wing, where Niall Collins rose above the hosts’ defence to score.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first period, with both sides going close.

However, Saints’ fate was sealed before the hour mark as York ran in three tries through Tim Elliot, Matt Withers and Adam Sellars, and added a couple of goals for a 22-4 lead.

Centre Greg Worrall reduced the deficit when he intercepted from deep inside his own half to go in under the posts. Jordan White converted.

Despite the sterling efforts of man-of-the match Chris Carter, prop John Fox and Steve McHugh, they could not stop Martin Wood and Tom Hill adding further tries for York.

These came after Worrall and Collins had both been denied scores which could have made a difference to the final scoreline.