Life’s a ‘Peach’ as fightback pockets points

WATERHEAD’S Chris Hough attempts to free himself from a tackle.

WATERHEAD displayed superb powers of recovery to register a third victory of the season.

Chris Hough’s side was left trailing in its opponents’ wake as Castleford Panthers forged a 12-0 lead with 10 minutes on the clock at Peach Road. But Waterhead proved a resilient bunch as they battled back to record a 40-12 success.

Panthers made a blistering start but the hosts’ response was almost immediate as Andy Gorey went in. While the conversion was missed, Waterhead had a foothold. Charles Hough crashed over in the 26th minute, and when Chris Hough touched down eight minutes later the home side was in the ascendancy.

Lawton increased the advantage with a goal on the verge of half-time and he was on hand to kick another two points after Pete Davies had gone over in the 57th minute.

Waterhead took a firm grip on the contest with Matthew Barran’s try after the hour mark. Jamie Mayall added the extras for a 28-12 lead.

Mayall again split the posts after Reece Bradshaw had gone in, and then Mayall improved his own score to wrap-up victory with eight minutes remaining.



OLDHAM ST ANNE’S finished with 11 players on the park as they lost 26-6 at Bradford Dudley Hill.

Saints were missing five key players due to injuries and Bradford got off to a flying start,

running in a couple of tries in the opening 10 minutes.

Bradford added tries just before the break to leave Saints 20-0 down.

Ten minutes in to the second half, Saints had substitute and coach Mick Fogerty and Alan Williamson sin-binned for technical offences, but the strong defence shown by Carl Fields, Michael Cadd, John Deakin and Kendall Davies managed to stop the hosts improving on their advantage.

No sooner had Saints returned to a full complement of players than Simon Topping was sent off for an alleged challenge with his elbow and Nathan Jewitt soon followed, protesting too loudly over his sin-binning.

Sewell goaled a second try for Tyson before winger Josh Denbeigh prevented a whitewash for the visitors by scoring in the corner. Kiel Lancashire kicked the goal.



SADDLEWORTH Rangers nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback at home to Normanton Knights in Division One of the NCL.

Shane Tupaea’s side found themselves 12-0 and 24-10 behind in the fixture at Shaw Hall Bank Road.

But they restored parity at 30 points each, only for Adrian Mulcahy to complete a hat-trick of tries with two minutes remaining to take 36-30 success for the Knights.

Trailing to tries from Jon Hodgson and Chris Thompson — both goaled by Mulcahy — Rangers got on the board thanks to Josh Bradbury’s score and conversion.

Gavin Dodd added to the hosts’ tally with a try, sandwiched between two scores from Mulcahy, both of which he improved.

Tom Robinson and Benji Lloyd notched tries within the space of three minutes — Bradbury kicked one of the goals — to reduce the deficit to four points.

However, that man Mulcahy improved Ryan Kelsey’s effort to give Knights some breathing space.

Rangers refused to throw in the towel, and when Bradbury and Oliver Kerr dived in, with a goal added, it was all to play for. Unfortunately for the home side, Mulcahy had the last laugh.