Trying times

MARTIN Sarsfield is held by two Hunslet Club Parkside rivals.

AND the wait goes on: Oldham St Anne’s, Saddleworth Rangers and Waterhead Warriors continue to find it tough-going in the Kingstone Press National Conference League.

After 16 games — six for Waterhead and Rangers, four for Saints — the borough’s NCL fraternity is still waiting to cheer its first win.

There has been no lack of effort and some of the matches have been close, but the three sides were up against it in the latest round.

WATERHEAD faced unbeaten Division Three leaders Hunslet Club Parkside and, despite holding their own in the opening period eventually succumbed 54-24 at Peach Road.

Mick Slicker junior’s charges did well in the first half. Tries from Darren Nixon, Luke De Feu and Scott Beswick — Andy Gorey kicked a conversion — put Waterhead within six points of unbeaten leaders Hunslet.

They managed further touchdowns from Du Feu and Gorey, plus an Alec Jobson goal, in the second 40.

But Hunslet ran in 34 points to record a convincing victory.

RANGERS were in with a shout of turning over Division One high-fliers York Acorn at Shaw Hall Bank Road. The two sides were all square in the early stages of the second half, only for the visitors to stretch away for a 34-12 victory.

Danny Attersall and Josh Bradbury went in for Rangers, who paid the price for a high penalty count. Ben Whitehead kicked the goals.

JORDAN White was man of the match for ST ANNE’S, who had to play second fiddle to Division Two title hopefuls Featherstone Lions.

Saints put 18 points on the board with tries from Dave Harris, Chris Carter, Callum Cashin and Carl Fields, one converted by Kiel Lancashire.

But the hosts kept the scoreboard ticking over with 46 points of their own.