Saints succumb in second half

St Annes v Stanningley, St Annes Matthew Whitehead

OLDHAM St Anne's succumbed to an excellent second half fightback as Stanningley took the points with a 24-12 victory at Higginshaw Road.

Saints had led 8-4 at half-time in the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three clash.

But the Leeds outfit recovered strongly to inflict a third defeat of the campaign on St Anne's, who now sit second from bottom in the early-season standings.

Matthew Whitehead's penalty put the hosts ahead after eight minutes, before a Stanningley side inspired by Niall Walker took the lead when the scrum-half crossed in the corner.

Defences were on top up to the half hour, when Saints' Jordan White broke from dummy half to send in Whitehead for a six-pointer.

Stanningley edged back in front three minutes into the second half when Adam Benn made the most of ground gained from a penalty, with Niall Murphy adding the goal.

Saints' man-of-the-match John Deakin, White and Joe Hartley set up a try for Kieran McGinnity that put the home side ahead at 12-10.

WARNING

But after a team warning was issued to them after an hour for the number of penalties accumulated, Stanningley just about bundled St Anne's man Craig Basnett into touch just shy of the line.

Walker went over for a second Stanningley try, Murphy converting, and from the restart McGinnity raced towards the line before being halted with the try line in sight.

Matt Bottom was then held up and as Saints continued to press, Carl Fields was adjudged to have knocked on in the act of grounding the ball.

With 10 minutes left, Murphy put boot to ball to extend the lead to six points with a penalty.

Saints' White was denied a score when charging down the ball, being adjudged to have knocked on, and with two minutes left walker completed his hat-trick with Murphy added a fourth goal of the afternoon.