Sizzling Saints take leading role

OLDHAM St Anne’s ‘A’ are riding high in Division Three of the North-West Men’s League after a superb 40-14 victory over title rivals Blackbrook.

Home side Saints started the day in second place, behind their opponents, but knew a victory by a margin of six points or more would see the standings reversed.

Not only was a success achieved, but in a convincing style, as they ran in eight tries to the visitors’ three.

Saints had a commanding 22-6 lead by half-time.

Tries from Omari Eastmond and Josh Denbeigh, with Ryan O’Donnell adding the conversion to the latter’s score, put the hosts in the ascendancy.

Saints went further in front when Kiel Lancashire goaled his own score and he also kicked the conversion following Eastmond’s second effort.

Winger Lee Brown replied for the St Helens team — he also landed the goal — just before the break.

It was virtually all one-way traffic in the second half as Saints ran in another four tries.

Denbeigh added a second, centre David Harris grabbed a brace and hooker Callum Deakin touched down for the last try.

Blackbrook, who arrived with an unbeaten record, could only manage consolation tries from substitute Chris Maple and stand-off Lee Johnson.

Both sides have two games remaining in the regular season, ironically, against the same opposition, Widnes West Bank and Burtonwood Bridge.
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