Gutsy Saints secure derby-day success

St Anne's 22, Waterhead 18

OLDHAM St Anne's edged local neighbours Waterhead Warriors in a tight Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three derby clash at Higginshaw Road.

However, the visitors can take plenty of pride out of the game, knowing they scored four tries to their hosts three.

Saints opened the scoring when Sam Akeroyd and Paddy Fitzsimmons created the space for prop-forward Chris Yarwood to go in at the right corner. Matty Whitehead added the touchline conversion.

However, on the half-hour mark they were unable to halt Matthew Fogerty from scoring, with Jamie Maher adding the goal to level the game at 6-6.

Saints found themselves under pressure again moments later, but a loose ball was snapped up and Dominic Bryan supplied the final pass for Kieran McGinnity to score out-wide, with Whitehead hitting the target.

Waterhead responded immediately when Martin Sarsfield - the visitors' man-of-the-match - swung the ball out for winger Declan Slicker to reduce the deficit to two points at the break.

With the conditions improving for the second period both sides began to settle down with some expansive rugby.

Whitehead landed two penalties to extend the lead, before Waterhead struck again with Luke Defue touching down.

With 15 minutes remaining, John Deakin and substitute Callum Fletcher made ground for the ball to cross to the right and send Craig Basnett in at the corner.

Whitehead, after missing a simple shot from in front of the posts moments earlier, added another penalty.

The Peach Road men mounted another attack, only to see Basnett intercept and save the day.

Deep into injury time, Slicker added a second try, but it was too little, too late as time ran out.

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