Saints spurred by flying start

Photo: Chris Sunderland

surrounded: Waterhead’s Frazer Coley has nowhere to go as he attempts to burst through the Milford Marlins line.

RUGBY: OLDHAM St Anne’s flew out of the blocks in a 36-8 victory at Castleford Panthers in Division Two of the National Conference League.

Chris Deakin’s side, who suffered a narrow two-point defeat seven days’ earlier, made no mistake this time after building up a 26-0 lead at the interval.

Terry Whalley opened the floodgates in the first half with a Kiel Lancashire-goaled try. Nathan Jewitt began the move, which also involved Mick Fogerty.

Saints, for whom Luke Makin impressed with several purposeful runs on debut, were soon in the ascendancy again.

Lancashire moved the ball to Danny Kay, who quickly switched possession to Nial Collins, who dived in for a 10-0 advantage with only 15 minutes on the clock.

Saints continued to dominate, with Fogerty and John Fox eager to run at the Panthers line at every opportunity.

And the duo’s barnstorming efforts were rewarded with a try apiece, while Greg Worrall also went over before the break. Lancashire kicked two conversions.

Holding such a big lead, Saints seemed to lose some of their intensity in the second period and allowed the home side to score through Lee Norton and John Brummitt. Neither try was converted.

Deakin’s men responded courtesy of tries from Collins, with his second of the afternoon, and Makin, who capped a fine debut. Lancashire added another goal to leave Saints in good heart for the visit of Stanningley on Saturday.


MICK Diveney had an eye for goal as Waterhead moved into the top half of NCL Division One with a a 31-24 win at home to Milford Marlins.
The former Oldham RL player was successful with five attempts and a field goal after both sides had crossed five times in a tight game at Peach Road.

In contrast Milford’s Martin Loveridge managed only two successes in front of the posts.

It was nip and tuck for the majority of the 80 minutes, until Andy Sands’ in-form men pulled away late on.

Diveney also went in for a try — his personal points tally for the afternoon was 15 — as did Alan Williamson (two), Dale Lowe and Craig Highton.

John Plunkett, Jamie Barry, Craig Harrison, James Coates and Danny Horner were Milford’s try-scorers.


TWO tries from Marlon Miller couldn’t prevent Saddleworth Rangers from slipping to a 14-10 defeat at Millom in National Conference League Division One.
Miller’s first score in the 25th minute, converted by Michael Coates, levelled things up at 6-6 after Ethan Kelly’s early try had been goaled by Paul Evans.

Rangers were pushing hard in the final throes of the first period — they were inside the hosts’

20-metre on their third set — when Evans intercepted and ran clear to put down under the posts.

The same player added the conversion to leave Emmerson Jackman’s side trailing 12-6 at half-time.

Evans, with a penalty in the 64th minute, extended Millom’s lead to eight points.

Rangers hit back almost immediately through Miller’s try, but they were unable to bridge the gap.