Saints are checked as Bowling go top

TRY TIME . . . Waterhead's Jake Maher scores in the corner

OLDHAM St Anne's saw their recent good run come to an end in National Conference League Division Three with a 46-32 defeat at West Bowling.

The points for the Bradford side took them to the top of the table.

It was an evenly-contested first quarter, with Saints going ahead in the sixth minute.

Matthew Whitehead gained ground with a penalty and running the ball down the blind side, produced a try for centre Joe Hartley.

The home side took the lead five minutes later, though, when loose-forward Olly Bartle went in under the posts and stand-off Harry Williams kicked the first of seven goals.

Saints regained the lead when John Deakin and Jonny Horton went down the right to put in Whitehead at the corner, with the latter landing the touchline conversion.

West Bowling's man-of-the-match Danny Halmshaw spent 10 minutes on the sidelines for kicking the ball away after conceding a penalty, but Saints couldn't take advantage of the extra man.

On his return to the fray, Halmshaw broke away to go in under the posts, and on the stroke of half-time he stormed clear to send in Williams for an 18-10 lead. Williams had added both goals.

Four minutes after half-time, a Ryan Powell chip to the corner was snapped up by Whitehead to reduce the deficit to four points.

However, the game swung in the Bradford outfit's favour with a three-try flourish in the space of 10 minutes just before the hour mark.

Prop-forward Chris Anderson was the first scorer, followed by tries for centre Danny Gregory and his partner Issac Khan, with Williams adding a couple of goals.

Saints responded with a try for substitute Ben Ingham, but a second try for Bartle and Ellis Bentley made sure of the points, with Williams again adding the extras.

The scoreline was made a little more respectable with two late tries for Callum Fletcher and Hartley, with Saints' man-of-the match Whitehead landing both conversions.

WATERHEAD lost 40-38 at home against Stanningley in a thrilling Division Three contest at Peach Road.

Second-placed Stanningley recovered from 34-16 behind to secure victory. Tom Kent's late try - goaled by Niall Murphy - won the match.

Martin Sarsfield (two), Jake Maher, Mark Maher, Reece Bradshaw, Alan Williamson and Danny Maher scored Waterhead's tries, with Jamie Mayall adding five goals.