Four-star Fogerty is key to Saints victory

Photo: PAUL STERRITT

Saddleworth Rangers 2014: Back row (l-r): Shane Wilson (chairman), Shane Tupaea (head coach), Craig Farrimond (conditioner), Jack Connor, Tom Robinson, Ashley Webb, Gareth Morgan, Dale Lowe, Tom Dransfield, Ethan Langhorn, Ryan Moore, Chris Conway, Chris Wareing (physio), Mel Sherrington (assistant physio), Peter Townsend (secretary). Front row (l-r): Steve Wood (touchline manager), James Whalley, Josh Bradbury, Callum Siddall, Jed Mawdsley, Ollie Kerr, Bowden Morgan.

RUGBY:  

MICK Fogerty was the star of the show as his Oldham St Anne’s team staved off a superb comeback from Eccles to win 42-38 and make it into the second round of the National Conference League Challenge Trophy.

The player-coach, operating at centre, scored four tries as Saints defeated their higher-level opponents at Higginshaw Road.

The last and most crucial of the four arrived in the 93rd minute after a host of attempts by both sides to break the deadlock had failed.

Fogerty will no doubt closely examine how his men let a 22-0 lead slip. Eccles began to find their form after Saints had forged ahead and gradually reduced the arrears.

Michael Cadd touched down for Saints and when Zacky Sajjad replied for the visitors, a Parker conversion made it 26-18 at half time.

Eccles were soon on the score sheet again with a Mike O’Boyle try, but a stunning Mick Diveney pass saw Saints man-of-the-match Simon Topping dive over for his first try. Lancashire converted, but O’Boyle added another try to his tally and at 32-26, when Fogerty was despatched to the sin bin, Eccles took full advantage of the extra man.

They added tries through Jordan Parker and Will Rigby, plus two Parker conversions, and for the first time Eccles had pushed into a lead at 38-32. Fogerty returned after a fine Lancashire break that had Topping on hand for his second try. Carl Sneyd converted to level the game.

The ‘golden point’ rule then came into force and following several off-target drop goal attempts, Lancashire spotted a rare gap and Fogerty was on hand to dive over and win a hard-earned victory.