Higginshaw go close to pulling off victory

HIGGINSHAW fell just short after producing a superb team performance against a strong Widnes Tigers side, losing 12-4 away from home in a tense encounter.

Despite having both first choice half-backs missing through injury, Higgy matched the Tigers all the way.

A nip and tuck opening produced its first score on 22 minutes, the home side taking the lead with a penalty. Gareth Franklin was then stopped just short for the visitors following man-of-the-match Chris Tomlin’s 30-yard break, but the Widnes side went further in front through a converted try five minutes before half-time.

New man Paul Brooks, outstanding at hooker on his debut, then helped create a try for Tomlin on the charge and struck a post with the conversion attempt to halve the deficit at 8-4.

Higgy were then unlucky not to score on the hour when a sweeping move ended with winger Scott Foote tackled into touch near the line.

A break from halfway resulted in the final try for the home team a quarter-hour from the end, against the run of play.

It was nonetheless an outstanding defensive effort from the visitors for whom Craig Milner showed up well on his playing return after three years out with a leg injury.




A STRONG Saddleworth Rangers ‘A’ side slipped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Woolston Rovers in division three, going down 16-10 on home soil.



After conceding too many penalties in the first half, Rangers were 6-0 down as the sides changed ends.

Early pressure after the break ended with good centre play from Adam Jeffries feeding Jack Holden to stride over, Danny Atherton converting.

Chris Conway then pounced on a precise grubber to put Saddleworth ahead, before a Woolston try and penalty edged the visitors back in front.

A tiring defence let in a last-minute try for the visitors to seal Rangers’ defeat, which came in spite of great efforts from Steven Lees, Jeffries and man-of-the-match Conway.




OLDHAM St Anne’s ‘A’ lost 30-20 at Blackpool Scorpions, Waterhead ‘A’ beat Eccleston Lions 24-12 at home in division five and in that same section, Rochdale Cobras thrashed Wigan Bulldogs 54-6 away from home.



Other result —

North-West Counties Youth League, under-18s premier division: Oldham St Anne’s 32, Pilkington Recs 0.