Rangers win bloody battle

Photo: PICTURE ANTHONY MILLER

JACK Connor, of Saddleworth Rangers, is helped off the field after receiving a bang to the face.

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RUGBY: 

TWO tries from Rob Kivlin and Ben Whitehead’s perfect kicking game helped Saddleworth Rangers to a 21-8 success against Oldham St Anne’s in the first semi-final of the Standard Cup last night.

Played at Rochdale Mayfield’s ground, Saints took a seventh-minute lead when Kiel Lancashire landed a penalty. Rangers responded through Gareth Morgan’s try in the 18th minute. Whitehead added the extras.

The teams swapped ends with Rangers 6-2 in front, and that advantage was extended to 12-2 after Whitehead converted full-back Kivlin’s 48th-minute effort.

Back came Saints eight minutes later with their only try of a physical encounter, Nathan Jewitt diving in and Lancashire kicking the goal. A Whitehead penalty, followed by a conversion in the space of five minutes after Kivlin had touched down, gave Rangers vital breathing space.

That man Whitehead even had the final say, with a drop goal in the 77th-minute to wrap up the scoring.

Oldham RU’s Manor Park home hosts the final on Good Friday, April 3.