Teenage kicks

RUGBY:

A YOUNG Oldham St Anne’s side repaid the belief shown in them by coach Chris Deakin with a fine 16-12 win at Elland in the National Conference League.

Deakin chose seven players from the club’s under-18s and they did not let him down as Saints, with their status already secured in Division Two, clinched victory with a late try.
Either side of the half-hour mark, winger Oliver Fairbank was denied by the Saints defence, who bundled him into touch on two occasions.

Elland managed to reduce the deficit before half-time when Phil Taylor crossed for a try.

Playing up the slope in the second period, Saints steeled themselves for an Elland onslaught, but they stuck to their task and were rewarded.

Within three minutes of resumption, Mick Fogerty was held up over the line, but he responded moments later when he broke from the base of a scrum to score midway between the posts and corner flag.

Worrall was disappointed to see his conversion attempt seemingly sail wide of the posts, but his dismay was short-lived when the officials raised their flags to award his effort much to the anger from the Halifax side for a 12-4 lead.

Oliver Fairbank, a member of the famous rugby league family playing alongside brothers Jorge and Jack, managed to evade the Saints defence for a try goaled by Pearson who, minutes later, restored parity with a penalty goal.

Hooker Kendal Davies claimed Saints’ man-of-the match award. He was run close by his fellow front-row partners Simon Topping and Carl Fields for an outstanding 80 minutes.

The latter, with only 60 seconds remaining, produced another surging run to the line before slipping the ball out to Worrall, who dived over at the corner to clinch the spoils.