St Anne’s inspired by Forsyth

RUGBY: 

OLDHAM St Anne’s A overcame the elements to beat neighbours Rochdale Mayfield A 27-18 at a wet Higginshaw Road in Division Two of the North-West Men’s League.

Saints scored first as Omari Eastmond scooted in at the corner, but Mayfield soon replied with tries from Dave Devlin and Johnny Marsland, plus two Marsland conversions.

Shortly before half-time, Martyn Swaine touched down for the home side and his goal pulled the gap back to two points, with Mayfield 12-10 up.

Saints’ half-back pairing of man-of-the-match Lee Forsyth and Ryan Powell ensured the ball was passed out wide at every opportunity, resulting in second-half tries for Ryan Powell, Dominic Igoe and Craig Basnett.

With two Swaine conversions, St Anne’s were 26-12 ahead.

Mayfield responded with a try from Nick Hargreaves, to which Marsland added two points. But Saints dug in during the closing stages and Forsyth’s drop goal settled any nerves.

In Division One, Heysham Atoms’ hosting of Saddleworth Rangers ‘A’ was postponed.