Super Saints slay Dragons

YOU'RE MINE . . . Terry Fitzgerald gets his man

OLDHAM St Anne's returned from Wakefield with two valuable points after securing a 22-12 win over National Conference League Division Three high-fliers Eastmoor Dragons.

Saints were unlucky not to open the scoring in the fifth minute when Sam Akeroyd was held up over the line after two good drives from Carl Fields and Paddy Fitzsimmons.

The Dragons, featuring veteran stand-off Aidie Mulcahy supported by hooker Michael Brown and loose-forward Michael Jedynak, were often thwarted by a magnificent Saints defence.

Mulcahy, though, found space down the left on two occasions, but was left disappointed when the final pass sailed into touch.

Midway through the first half, Saints took the lead when scrum-half Luke Skilling sent his half-back partner Matthew Whitehead on a cross-field run to touch down in the right corner.

The lead was doubled on the half-hour mark when Matty Bottom and John Deakin combined to put in centre Joe Hartley at the opposite side of the pitch.

Mulcahy pummelled high balls to test Saints full-back Kieran McGinnity, but the youngster took everyone in his stride.

Three minutes into the second half, Saints extended their lead when Sammy Sykes' perfectly-timed off-load to Callum Cashin saw the winger go in under the posts. Whitehead added the goal for a 14-0 lead.

Eastmoor gave their large support some hope with tries either side of the hour mark. Again Mulcahy was involved, firstly sending Brown racing to the line with the former adding the goal. He then released prop-forward Jamie Dodds for a score in the corner, which Jamie Slater improved.

It was game on.

DARTING

Saints, with hooker Jonny Horton making darting runs from dummy-half and the input of substitutes Chris Yarwood and Ryan Dalton, hit back when Whitehead chipped to the right corner for centre Dominic Bryan to collect and touchdown.

Whitehead landed the conversion, before taking the game away from the Dragons with a penalty five minutes from time.

* UNABLE to raise a side for their visit to Stanningley seven days earlier in NCL Division Three, Waterhead Warriors fielded a full 17 for the home match against Dewsbury Moor.

However, they were reduced to 12 men on the pitch when Lewis Croft was sent off for alleged dissent, while Keegan Brennan and Declan Slicker were sin-binned for professional fouls. Dewsbury also lost Bartley O'Brien to a yellow card for kicking out.

Trailing 16-0 at the break, lowly Waterhead eventually lost 48-0.