Saints so close to a big upset

CARRYING THE FIGHT: St Anne’s Sean Thomas gets stuck in.

RUGBY:

OLDHAM St Anne's were but a whisker away from causing an upset against joint National Conference League Division One leaders York Acorn.

Chris Deakin's side, bottom of the table with one win all season, were staring down the barrel at a sizeable defeat six minutes from full-time before launching an assault that so nearly paid dividends.

From 34-16 down, tries from Jordan Hanley, Paul Garrett and Michael Cadd, plus two Jordan Galloway conversions, brought the deficit margin down to a mere two points.

Unfortunately for the Higginshaw Road outfit, time ran away to leave Acorn breathing a heavy sigh of relief thanks to a 34-32 triumph.

St Anne's were unfortunate not to draw level on the stroke of half-time, when Danny Earley was adjudged to have made a double movement to the side of the uprights.

Within a minute of the restart and with Acorn 16-10 up, Waldron's second and Clapham's goal extended the lead. Topping's try and Galloway's goal were then followed by Acorn responses from Joe Budd and Jordan Hyde, Clapham converting both before Saints piled back into the contest late on.




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