Battling Brian is Saints’ saviour

RUGBY:  

A YOUTHFUL Oldham St Anne’s A team pulled out all the stops to beat second-placed Rylands 32-28 in Division Two of the North-West Men’s League.

Saints had the best of the first half with tries from Darren Fletcher, Oliver Bryan, Luke Du Feu, Craig Basnett and John Doherty, while Martyn Swaine added two conversions.

Rylands replied with two tries from Dave Walker and one from Luke Walker, and with three Jack Lewis conversions the score was 24-18 to Saints at the break.

Bryan scored his second try shortly after the break, and Swaine’s conversion and a penalty goal moved the hosts further ahead. But the final quarter belonged to Rylands as continued pressure resulted in tries for Jack Cosgrove and Walker, and with a Lewis conversion and minutes remaining on the clock the score moved on to 32-28.

Mid-table Saints then hung on for victory thanks to a last-ditch try-saving tackle by Bryan.