Rangers on high after rapid start

A MUCH-IMPROVED performance saw Saddleworth Rangers under-15s return to the top of the North-West Counties League premier division table with a resounding 32-8 victory over Ince Rose Bridge.

A strong start from Rangers — prop and coaches’ award winner Bobby Crossley impressed in the tackle — saw Chris Bolton score two tries for an 8-0 lead.

Josh Bradbury added a third, which Ben White goaled, before leaving the field with an arm injury.

Ince replied with a try of their own and were denied on two occasions by Lewis Galbraith.

Rangers hit the ground running after the restart when top-tackler Ryan Maneely collected a White pass and sprinted home from 30 yards to score under the posts. White converted.

Ince scored their second try, but Rangers were soon back in the ascendancy and completed the scoring thanks to a brace of tries from the man-of-the-match Galbraith. White added two more goals.

Meanwhile, Rangers under-16s slumped to a 36-6 defeat against Swinton outfit Folly Lane in the North-West Counties Cup.

Some stubborn defending restricted their hosts to a 10-0 lead at the break, but two quick scores after the restart left Rangers with a mountain to climb.

Rangers did register a score of their own thanks to a powerful drive from John Deakin, which was converted by Scott Lamont.

The under-12s succumbed to their first defeat of the season when they went down 26-8 to Portico.

Already hit by several absentees, Rangers suffered a further blow when they lost Jacob Ford to a serious knee injury.

But they refused to throw in the towel, and were on the mark through Harry Aaronson’s length-of-the-field effort and a try in the corner from Nathan Knowles at the start of the second half.

OLDHAM St Anne’s under-11s recorded a 28-18 win in a hard-fought contest against Mayfield Mustangs at Higginshaw Road.

The two teams matched each other score-for-score in a tight first half, but it was Saints who gradually asserted their authority in the second period.

Regan Croft (two), James Barran, boy-of-the-match Alex France and Jamie Ashton notched tries, while Barran, France, Ashton and Oliver Depetrillo kicked conversions.

The under-nines produced a spirited display in a seven tries to six defeat against a bigger Rylands outfit.

Tries came from Danny Fish, William Mallony, Max Flanagan (two) and Luke Smith (two).

The under-16s, with only 13 fit players, were beaten 34-10 by reigning champions Halton Farnworth Hornets, who had built up a 16-point lead without reply in the first half.

A length-of-the-field effort from Chris Taylor reduced the arrears — the conversion attempt in front of the posts was missed — before Jarrod Ward took a high ball out on the wing to score. This time Martyn Swaine made no mistake with the goal.

But Saints’ hopes of further success were dashed as a stronger Halton side stood firm to take the spoils.