Last-gasp St Jude's see off Saddleworth

Photo: Paul Sterritt

Ben Wood

A TRY a minute from full-time subjected Saddleworth Rangers to a narrow defeat in an incident-packed clash with Wigan St Jude's at Shaw Hall Bank Road.

Nathan Jones crossed in the corner to give the visitors a 30-27 victory in a Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two clash that featured two red cards and a pair of yellows.

Anthony Morrison was sent off for Rangers for fighting in a 27th-minute incident that saw Wigan pair Paul Pendlebury and Kieron Gaskell placed in the sin-bin.

The numbers were levelled up at 12-a-side when St Jude's prop Olumide Oladale was red-carded in the 51st minute for a high tackle.

Despite making referee David Sharpe work hard, though, the above were isolated incidents in a full-on battle between evenly matched sides.

Gareth Morgan went over first for the hosts, Ben Whitehead converting, before St Jude's hit back to establish a commanding 20-6 lead by half-time.

Hooker Nathan Bevan's hat-trick of scores were added to by three goals from John Darbyshire.

Rangers hit back in the second half. Simon Parrish, Ethan Langhorn and Jack Bradbury touched down with Whitehead's three conversions putting the hosts in front at 24-20 on the hour.

Whitehead kicked a drop goal, only for St Jude's to register a six-point try with Darbyshire adding to a Joey Brady effort.

A penalty from Whitehead appeared to have settled matters for the Greenfield outfit, putting them 27-26 up with two minutes left, only for the hosts to fail to gather the restart with Jones taking full advantage.