Saints' top six bid now in the balance

Photo: Paul Sterritt

HE'S IN . . . Matt Whitehead scores a try

OLDHAM St Anne's' hopes of achieving a National Conference League Division Three top six place took a jolt with a 38-36 defeat at home to Clock Face Miners.

With Rylands Sharks withdrawing from the competition on Friday, all their results were expunged from the records and Saints lay six points adrift.

With a large gathering of ex-players in attendance, it looked like the old days had returned when Saints raced into a 24-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Paul Ainsworth dived over after four minutes, with Matthew Whitehead landing the touchline conversion.

Six minutes later, full-back Kieran McGinnity linked up to take a pass from Luke Skilling to go in at the side of the posts, with Whitehead adding the simple conversion.

Callum Fletcher scored, as did in-form Jonny Horton, to create a 24-0 lead.

Five minutes before the break, the Miners opened their account when scrum half Callum Topping stabbed the ball to the right corner for winger Luke Leyden to touch down, with Jack Hitchcock adding the goal.

Two minutes later, second row forward Andy Smith popped the ball out to Topping to go in under the posts.

Just before half-time, Saints suffered a double blow. Horton retired with a hamstring injury, then the game was halted when Tom Robinson - on his home debut - suffered a dislocated knee and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Four minutes into the second period, Whitehead showed a clean pair of heels to stroll in at the right corner, before Saints were penalised inside their own quarter for an alleged high tackle and Leyden crossed the line, with Hitchcock adding the goal.

Whitehead then landed a penalty for a similar infringement and when the ball sailed out on the full from the restart, the Saints' centre gained 40 metres with the kick.

Fletcher found John Deakin in support for the man-of-the-match to dive over at the side of the posts, with Whitehead slotting over the conversion for a 20-point lead.

Saints were coasting, but the Miners did rally and ran in four further tries in the final quarter.

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