Rangers facing last-day decider after first defeat

Daniel Yates, picked for England U15s squad.

Rugby
A DEFEAT away to Leigh Miners Rangers means Saddleworth Rangers under-16s — previously unbeaten all year — will have to win their final two matches if they are to claim the North-West Counties division two title.

What’s more, the final fixture of the season sees them line up against the same Leigh outfit who beat them 18-4 at the weekend.

Saddleworth dominated much of the field position but failed to capitalise, while also having tries disallowed for a forward pass and incomplete grounding.

While the visitors never got into their stride, there were strong performances from man-of-the-match Lewis Hough at prop, closely followed by Jack Francis, while Joe Greenwood worked tirelessly in defence and was well supported by hooker Tommy Smith.

Steve Broadbent scored their only try in the corner in the first half.

Rangers under-15s came out on top in a real ‘arm wrestle’ at Hindley in the North-West Counties Cup, winning 4-0.

With neither side having played much in the past 10 weeks, handling errors inevitably played a big part in the game.

The score was 0-0 at the break but Rangers continued to press forward and were rewarded when the ball was switched quickly to the wing, where Andrew Salt successfully breached the Hindley line.

The under-14s of Saddleworth were presented with a tough task in the third round of the BARLA National Cup, a tie at Castleford-based Smawthorne Panthers.

But they came away with a 24-20 victory which sends the team into the last eight of the competition.

After going 10-0 behind, Lewis Galbraith went over for the first of a hat-trick of tries, before Ben White went over which he also converted.

Trailing 12-10 at half-time, the visitors saw that gap extend as Smawthorne scored two unanswered tries.

But a never-say-die attitude led to Galbraith recording a try, White converting to add to an earlier penalty goal, before Josh Bradbury produced a superb kick which man-of-the-match Galbraith gathered to score.

White converted from the touchline and Rangers, who only travelled with 15 players due to injuries and holidays, went through.

While well-organised Latchford Albion’s under-11s won 24-0 at home to Rangers, the visitors put in their best performance of the season. Rangers’ man-of-the-match was Tom Brisk, who played superbly in both attack and defence.

Rangers under-eights went to Wigan St Cuthbert’s for their first game of 2009 and came away with a seven tries to three success.

Man-of-the-match Adam Howarth scored three tries, while others came from top tackler Bradley Jinks (two), captain Andrew Goodwin and Ben Forster.

Up against Clock Face, Rangers under-nines trailed by four tries to three at half-time, but only let the opposition in twice more while scoring six times themselves.

The most improved player was Drew Sherratt, Guy Edwards was the top tackler Guy Edwards while birthday boy Matt Fletcher was man-of-the-match.


EARLY EXIT

SHAW Rhinos under-15s exited the North-West Counties Cup at the first round stage, losing 20-6 against Folly Lane.

In a great team effort for Shaw, special mention goes to Richard Adams, David Kelly and man-of-the-match Luke Bentley.


Late lapses cost Eagles victory

HIGGINSHAW Eagles under-14s came away from their home game with Orrell St James feeling bemused, after letting the game slip from their grasp.

Leading 20-12 with only five minutes to go, Higgy fell to a 22–20 defeat. Higgy’s tries arrived through Nyle Reyburn (two), man-of-the-match Patrick Fitzsimmons and Jack Hughes, with goals from Hughes and Jamie Mayall.

But even though they lost the game, it contained Higginshaw’s best defensive display of the season so far.

Josh Queenan, Reyburn, Ryan Maylor and Elliott White were the pick of the forwards within an outstanding effort from the pack.

Bradley Turner put in some lovely kicks and passes and set up two tries, while Callum Deakin set up a score with some great handling skills.


OLDHAM St Anne’s under-10s blew off the cobwebs of the winter break to record a convincing 24-4 win over visiting New Spring Legion.

Oliver Depetrillo scored and converted his own effort for the opener, which was followed by a James Barran try.

Top tackler Owen Baldwin then put Saints 14-0 in front at half-time, before New Springs scored their only try of the day.

Prop Anthony Wooley and Joseph Hall were the other scorers, Regan Croft was boy-of-the-match.

St Anne’s under-eights recorded an emphatic 10 tries to two triumph over Westhoughton.

The scorers were Ethan Chiappe (three), Asa France (two), Thomas Barnes (two) and one each for Danny Fish, Samuel Jewitt, Thomas Rogers and birthday boy Ben Ivell.

Depleted St Anne’s under-nines beat Golborne by 11 tries to nine.

Top tackler Rob Charles scored six tries, with boy-of-the-match Sam Hall adding another five. There were excellent performances from most improved player Luke Cooper, plus a non-stop effort from Zac Collier.


WATERHEAD under-16s came out on top in a double-pointer away at Bank Quay Bulls, winning 42-10.

Tries came from Sam Reynolds, Anthony Mellor, Jordan Curtis (three), Jordan Hanley (two) and Liam Lewis, with Luc Kinder and Mellor (four) adding conversions.


England calling

PROMISING scrum-half Daniel Yates (pictured), on the books at Wigan Warriors, has been selected in the England under-15s squad.

Yates, a Counthill pupil who plays for the Waterhead club, is set to take on Wales in an international on Good Friday, April 10, in Gwent.


First for Bulldogs

FITTON Hill Bulldogs put out three junior sides for the first time in the club’s short history.

The under-15s took on Rochdale Mayfield at home and, thanks to a massive defensive effort, were only one score down as the sides changed ends.

William White, Josh Hulme, Jordan Robby and Andrew Younger battled hard for the Bulldogs, who eventually ran out of steam to allow Mayfield in for four second-half tries to complete a 30-0 final score.

The under-10s travelled to Leigh East with a patched up side but performed strongly for the full game before losing.

Best on the day for Fitton Hill were Reese Walker, top tackler John Tighe and try scorer Matty Ibberson.

Unbeaten Halton Hornets of Widnes formed the opposition for the Bulldogs’ under-nines outfit and it wasn’t a game for the faint hearted, with plenty of bone-crunching tackles flying in.

Fitton Hill scored two tries, from Sanchez Francis and Kurt Nevitt, while conceding eight. Top tackler Jerrold Coughlan led by example.


ANY prospective young player who fancies training with one of Fitton Hill’s three young sides is welcome to attend training on Wednesday nights (from 6pm) and Saturday mornings (10am) at Hathershaw School.