Waterhead beat promotion rivals to climb table

RUGBY:

WATERHEAD moved back up to second place with a 17-8 win against early-season promotion rivals Ovenden in Division Two of the National Conference League.



All but one point of the home side’s haul came in the opening half at Peach Road.

Dale Lowe, Craig Highton and Carl Sneyd went in, with the latter adding two goals against the team which started the afternoon hot on the heels of leaders East Leeds.

Ovenden responded with a couple of tries after half-time.



LEADING 26-10 seven minutes into the second half, Saddleworth Rangers were on course to cause an upset against Wigan St Patrick’s in the Premier Division.

But it was all Pat’s after that, as they went in six times to post a 40-30 victory at Greenfield.

Rangers can still be pleased with their efforts. Ethan Langhorn, from a Ben Wood break, struck first for the home side just before the half-hour mark, while James Whalley dived in after Pat’s spilled the ball in front of their own posts.

Tries by Wood, after good work from Langhorn, and Chris Garforth under the sticks, from a Keil Lancashire pass, put Rangers in the driving seat. Lancashire also kicked five goals.

Title hopefuls Pat’s stormed back with 30 unanswered points against a tiring back line.

Rangers found enough energy from somewhere to score again, but it did not affect the outcome.



OLDHAM St Anne’s, second-bottom in Division One, shipped 68 points at Millom.

Steve Dawson and Anthony O’Brien each claimed a hat-trick of tries for the Cumbrians, who were home and dry at 34-6 at the mid-way stage.

A touch down from Australian Ged Roods in the first half, converted by Jordan White, was Saints’ consolation for the long trip north.