Waterhead in big late surge

RUGBY:  

WATERHEAD’S late surge of points helped added a gloss to the scoreline as they saw off Ovenden 54-22 to reach the second round of the Challenge Trophy.

Jamie Mayall was the stand-out on the day for his 22-point haul.

Waterhead took an early lead through Matthew Holland’s try before Martin Mullen crossed for the visitors at Peach Road.

Player-coach Chris Hough touched down for the first of his double, Ashley Wildman also went in and, between a pair of Aaron Brown scores for Ovenden, Mayall stepped up to land a goal after he had crossed himself.

Liam Walsh’s try and a Nathan Smith conversion pulled the score back to 24-18. but despite Arran Varley’s 65th-minute try, Waterhead blitzed their Halifax-based opponents through tries from Hough, Darren Nixon, Wildman and two from Danny Maher.