Three and easy

GROUND FORCE . . . Alan Williamson, of Oldham St Anne’s, touches down for a try against Stanningley at Higginshaw Road.

RUGBY:

OLDHAM St Anne’s meant business from the very first whistle as they swept aside Stanningley 38-0 in Division One of the Kingstone Press National Conference League.

Chasing a third win in as many outings, Saints got off the mark within 90 seconds of the start.

Scrum-half Mick Diveney carried possession to the Stanningley line before off-loading to Chris Carter, who touched down at the right corner flag. Kiel Lancashire landed the conversion.

Five minutes later, visiting hooker Tom Sharp raced away, leaving the Saints defence trailing in his wake, only to spill the ball over the line. That was the only time the Leeds side troubled the rampant hosts.

Approaching the end of the first quarter, Lancashire sent the Stanningley defence the wrong way before putting centre David Harris in at the left corner.

Nathan Jewitt, after some slick passing from Eric Johnson and Diveney, was denied a try under the

posts on the intervention of the referee’s assistant for a forward pass in the build-up.

Diveney caused all sorts of problems for the visitors, and after 23 minutes he provided a try for his former Waterhead team-mate Alan Williamson. Sending a long ball from the base of the scrum, the winger went in at the corner for a 16-0 lead.

Saints front-row pair Carl Fields and Simon Topping showed no mercy in both attack and defence.

A hailstorm five minutes before the break brought an early end to the half, as both teams took refuge in the changing rooms.

Conditions didn’t improve after the interval and neither side was able to complete its sets due to the slippery surface.

Ten minutes after the restart, winger Josh Denbeigh broke clear from his own half for a brilliant solo try.

With many of the fans taking sanctuary in the clubhouse due to the weather, they missed a thrilling climax with Saints running in three further tries.