Lethal Saints in big victory
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 07 September 2009
ON THE INSIDE: Saddleworth Rangers winger Shaun Robinson cuts infield during his side’s 30-12 home win over Rochdale Mayfield.
Rangers pick up points too
OLDHAM St Anne’s began their National Conference League division two campaign with a bang, running home 11 tries against a shell-shocked Eastmoor Dragons outfit at Higginshaw Road to win 62-8.
David Harris scored a hat-trick and there was a brace for new captain Danny Kay as Mick Cashin’s men gave themselves the perfect start.
Saints were 32-2 up at half-time. Kiel Lancashire’s third-minute penalty goal was added to by a Lee Forsythe try in the corner, before Lancashire himself went over.
Strong running and solid defence were the order of the day for St Anne’s. Leigh Joyce reduced the arrears by slotting over a penalty but further tries from Harris, Ben Ingham, Zac Cotton and Dane English plus three Lancashire conversions gave the home side a comfortable lead at the interval.
Steve McHugh increased the lead on 53 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball over the line, Harris grabbed his second and substitute Darren Fletcher raced home from 40 metres to score under the posts.
Michael Jedynak responded for the visitors with 10 minutes left, but extra tries from Harris and Kay rounded off the afternoon, with Lancashire adding five more second-half goals.
SADDLEWORTH Rangers made it two wins from two with a 30-12 victory over relegated rivals Rochdale Mayfield in division one.
Winger Shaun Robinson opened the scoring for the home side, the first of his brace of tries arriving on five minutes with Michael Coates converting and then adding a penalty.
Mayfield hit back and a McKenna Gibson try was followed by a conversion and a further goal from Aide Gleeson to level the game at 8-8.
Ethan Langhorn then put Rangers back in front, Coates converting again for a 14-8 half-time lead.
Coates went over himself eight minutes after the break, also converting, before Junior Brandford’s try sent the home side out of sight.
The visitors went over again through Seta Tala, but Robinson’s second settled matters.
DEPLETED Waterhead went down to a 52-6 defeat away at Stanley Rangers in division two.
A strong first-half performance saw the home team establish a 24-0 lead thanks to tries from Gareth Whitehead, Andrew Brooke, John Gledhill and John McDermott, Kevin King goaling each one for a 24-0 advantage.
Matty Firth and King added to the tally before Ashley Wildman picked up a consolation try which was added to by Chris Hepworth’s boot.
Chris Walker, John McDermott, David Foster and Whitehead crossed for more tries with King ending up on seven goals.
