No reward for shows of spirit

SADDLEWORTH Rangers and Waterhead are fighting tooth and nail to avoid relegation from National Conference League Division One.

Both local sides gave as good as they got against Eccles and East Leeds respectively, but for no reward and they remain ensconced in the bottom three.

Rangers were 12-0 behind after six minutes at Eccles — tries from Andrew Muscat and Ben Connor were goaled by Mike Carney — only for touch downs from Marlon Miller and Dave Hewitt, and a Michael Coates conversion, to cut the deficit.

The hosts then took control as a Coates penalty was all Rangers could must in response to scores from Richard Openshaw, Ben Wheeler and Chris Scanlan, plus two Carney conversions, saw the scoreline quickly move to 28-12.

When Ryan Moores went in, goaled by Coates, Rangers were back in the game with the entire second period to play.

However, a Carney penalty two minutes after the restart and a Wheeler try against the run of play in the 66th minute left the visitors with too much to do.

Third-bottom Waterhead were on course to cause a big shock in their clash against high-flying East Leeds at Peach Road.

Like Rangers, they trailed 12-0, but tries from Alec Jobson, Matthew Fogarty and Ash Wildman — Jobson also landed three goals — saw Waterhead build up an 18-16 lead.

However, East Leeds stormed back to bag a 34-24 victory, despite the home side’s best efforts.

Jobson kicked another goal for Waterhead after Wildman had gone in for a second time.

Jason Priestley, Ross Meston, Jack Norfolk, Jonny Carter, Jordan Normington and Joey Walkin touched down for the visitors, while Nathan Conroy (four) and Priestley slotted over the conversions.