Saints give it their all

BREAK IT UP . . . Oldham St Anne’s and Kells players are separated at the end of the Division Two clash.

RUGBY:  

OLDHAM St Anne’s made leaders Kells pull out all the stops in Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two.

Mick Fogerty’s men were 12 points to the good at one stage, before the unbeaten high-flyers hit back to secure a 37-18 victory.

Saints forged clear thanks to Kiel Lancashire-converted tries from Dave Harris and Craig Highton.

But Kells, who had won nine and drawn one in 10 games, found their feet to trail by only a couple of points at the half way mark.

Both touchdowns were scored out wide from winger Reece O’Neill. Visitors’ man-of-the-match Ross Gainford was successful with one of the goal attempts.

Kells were in front soon after the restart, with Scott Lofthouse going over. Gainford kicked the conversion and followed up with a penalty.

Saints were never slow in coming forward, and spearheaded superbly by their own star man in John Deakin, they levelled things up at 18-18. Dane English went in and Lancashire added the extras.

The hosts were left kicking themselves, though, when a knock-on led to a Dominic Wear try and Gainford conversion. Gainford then landed a field goal to put Kells 25-18 ahead.

Despite their best efforts, Saints were unable to add to their tally and in the closing minutes Gainford and Wear crossed for tries, both of which were converted by Gainford.

As the final whistle blew, tempers flared following what had been a competitive encounter.



WHAT A difference a week made for Waterhead. Seven days after putting more than 50 points on the board at home to Ovenden in the NCL Challenge Trophy, they shipped 50 points in the Division Two clash against the same opponents.

There were mitigating circumstances: Waterhead had a clutch of injury absentees for the away game.

Coach Chris Hough, who announced his retirement in the build-up to the game, was without Terry Fitzgerald (knee), Kieran Grennan (broken foot), and David Orwell (neck), while Martin Sarsfield was unavailable.

Waterhead, who had 16 men, were still in the game at the break — they trailed 10-0 — but a flurry of points in the second half sealed their fate.



SADDLEWORTH Rangers had no fixture in Division One.