Saints edged out in see-saw thriller

St Annes: Jordan Gallaway

OLDHAM St Anne's remain in relegation trouble in National Conference League Division One, having gone down 30-22 to promotion-chasing Egremont on home turf.

This, though, was a delicately-poised game which only just went the way of the Cumbrians.

Prop forward John Fox opened the scoring at Higginshaw Road, with Jordan White converting to hand Saints a six-point lead after five minutes.

Carl Fields had created that try and after a reply from Egremont's Ryan Barnes, was at it again in breaking the defensive line to send home Mark Lees.

Visiting hooker Danny Telford scooted in next and John Paul Brocklebank's conversion tied the game up prior to White's penalty edging Saints in front at 12-10.

Then came a yellow card for Saints replacement hooker Danny Kay, sustained following a professional foul a minute before half-time.

What followed after the break took the game away from St Anne's.

Organiser in chief Brocklebank strolled over and goaled his own try before sending Barnes in for a second, creating an eight-point gap.

Saints hit back when White gave full-back Ged Roods a perfect pass which was also converted.

But when the home man-of-the-match Jordan Galloway was felled by a high tackle, instead of taking the two points on offer to level Deakin's men chose to run the ball — and lost possession.

Brocklebank extended the lead with his second try which he also converted prior to Leon Crelling sealing the match by squeezing home at the corner.

St Anne's winger Dane English grabbed a late consolation, before a late set-to between both teams occurred on the full-time whistle.

o STRUGGLING Saddleworth Rangers gave Thatto Heath a fright in the Premier Division, before succumbing to a 48-22 away-day defeat — a seventh in nine matches for the club propping up the rest in the table.

After a stalemate in the opening half-hour, Rangers full-back Adam Jeffrey surged in to open the scoring with Kiel Lancashire converting the try.

Adam Walsh responded for Thatto but it was the visitors who were next over thanks to a try and a goal from Lancashire right on the stroke of half-time.

Sadly, Saddleworth could not maintain their advantage.

In only a 10-minute purple patch at the start of the second period, Kieron Maddocks and Shaun Quinn put the home side further in front and a quick-fire Gareth Frodsham double made matters worse.

Maddocks got a second and Alex Turner was also on the score sheet, before a reply came from Rangers' Jack Holden.

Trumper got another eight minutes from full-time, Adam Walker responding for Saddleworth with a score Lancashire improved, before Dave Hull's late effort rounded matters off.

o OLDHAM St Anne's team picture in Thursdayis Chronicle.



Follow us on Twitter — @OldhamChronicle