Gutsy St Anne's sunk on travels

TOP TRY . . . Saints' Ryan Powell (centre)

A LATE flurry of points saw Oldham St Anne's slump to a 24-14 National Conference League Division Three loss at high-flying Stanningley.

The south Leeds side completed a double, having won by a similar score at Higginshaw Road earlier in the season.

Stanningley took the lead with scrum-half Sean Cooper crossing at the side of the posts. Liam Copeland added the goal.

Saints' man-of-the-match Ryan Powell then produced the try of the game, side-stepping his way over the line five minutes later.

However, Luke Skilling's attempt at converting struck the upright.

The home side extended their lead with an unconverted try from stand-off Danny Barcoe.

On the half-hour, Saints forwards Carl Fields and Ryan Dalton drove the ball forward to off-load to the supporting Sam Akeroyd, and he reduced the deficit to two points.

SCRAMBLING

A minute before half-time, Paul Ainsworth and Matthew Whitehead created the space for winger Craig Basnett to race to the line, only to be denied by a scrambling defence to force him into touch at the corner flag.

Saints had the worst possible start to the second half as they were penalised for straying off-side at the kick-off. Stanningley punished them, gaining territory from the kick to touch for substitute Broadie Pitts to go in at the corner flag for an un-goaled try.

Ten minutes later, Saints were on level terms.

Matty Bottom and Paddy Fitzsimmons strolled through the home defence to send hooker Jonny Horton in under the posts, with Skilling adding the goal.

In the final quarter of a highly-competitive game, the Yorkshiremen took control, running in two further tries for loose-forward Liam Duffy and winger Ben Selby.

Man-of-the match Copeland added a goal to move the hosts into second position in the league table.