'Fitz' brace sets the Standard

Photo: Paul Sterritt

REFEREE! Rhys Wareing makes his feelings known after a tackle from Fitton Hill Bulldogs.

OLDHAM St Anne's edged a narrow 16-10 win over Fitton Hill Bulldogs in round one of the Napier Windows Ltd Standard Challenge Cup at Higginshaw Road.

In terrible conditions, both teams made handling errors in their first games of the season.

The visitors took the lead in the 10th minute when full-back Lewis Fitton linked up in the line to put Martin Kenny in at the corner. Former Saints player Kiel Lancashire failed to add the conversion.

Saints hit back 10 minutes later when hooker Patrick Fitzismmons - one of five players making their first appearance at open age level - nipped over from dummy half. Matthew Whitehead kicked the goal.

On the stroke of half-time, Whitehead gathered a chip through from Ryan Powell to go in under the posts for a six-point score.

LARGE CROWD

With conditions deteriorating in the second period, the large crowd had to wait until the hour mark to see any further movement of the scoreboard.

It came from the home side when Fitzsimmons showed some good pace to cross wide out on the left for his second try. Whitehead's attempt at goal rebounded off the near upright.

The Bulldogs threw everything at their hosts with Fitton, Lancashire, scrum-half James Tindall and another former Saints favourite, Simon Topping, putting in a tremendous amount of work.

Saints' more experienced pack, led by John Deakin, Rhys Wareing and Carl Field, who were outstanding in both attack and defence, had to endure a tense last five minutes when Topping grabbed the Bulldogs' second try and Lancashire slotted over the conversion.

Waterhead Warriors, at Peach Road, await Saints in the last four. Date to be arranged.