Early joy turns to despair

RUGBY:

OLDHAM St Anne’s failed to string two wins together as they slumped to an 18-8 defeat at Ovenden in Division Two of the National Conference League.

Chris Deakin’s men, who overcame Castleford Panthers in their previous league encounter seven days earlier, made a perfect start against a side searching for a first victory of the season.

Lee Forsyth chipped through for centre Terry Whalley to gather the ball and put in Niall Collins at the corner.

Ovenden should have levelled things up, but they knocked-on over the try line.

Despite the strong running and terrific tackling from man-of-the-match David Best, Saints could not take advantage of the possession they had and went in at the break only four points to the good.

Within a minute of the second half the visitors had conceded two penalties and the Halifax side got on the score sheet.

The game quickly switched to the other end of the pitch and loose-forward Simon Topping broke from his own line to send Nathan Jewitt racing away for a try.

Saints mounted a sustained spell of pressure on the Ovenden line, but Dodd picked up a spilled ball and he ran the length of the field to score under the posts.

Sandland converted before landing a penalty late on to give Ovenden their first points of the season.