Rangers keep up good work

Zac Cotton (St Anne’s) tries to make a break against Eccles and Salford Juniors.

SADDLEWORTH Rangers maintained their promotion charge by holding on to claim an excellent 41-28 win away at Millom.

Scrum-half Paul Ashton scored a couple of tries and landed a drop goal for the visitors, who only made sure of the points by scoring a pair of tries in the final two minutes of an absorbing National Conference League division one contest.

Falling behind to an early Matt Hayes try, Rangers responded through efforts from Gareth Davies, Ashton and Coley before half-time, Michael Coates converting all three in response to Ben Hood’s try which was added to by Ryan Oxtoby.

That 18-10 lead was extended through a Coates penalty before a converted try for Tom Lever and one for Ashton appeared to have made the game safe at 30-10.

Milford hit back after the hour and a quick-fire pair of James Barker tries, both converted by Oxtoby, were answered by an Ashton drop-goal.

With six minutes left a Paul Coates try for the home side, goaled by Oxtoby, reduced the deficit to three points.

But late tries for Saddleworth from Shaun Robinson and Ben Walters, allied to another Coates conversion, made it safe for the visitors in a performance in which the forwards stood out.


WATERHEAD looked to be heading for a first victory of the season in division two but for a late surge from home side Crosfields, who emerged as 36-28 winners.

Dominating the opening period with scrum-half Michael Diveny leading the way, Waterhead opened the scoring in the second minute through a Terry Fitzgerald try, converted by Diveny.

Tries for the home team from Phil Bannon and Chris Burgess, goaled by Jimmy Williams, came either side of Waterhead efforts through Diveny and Mike Bennett, plus a Diveny conversion.

Leading 16-12 at half-time, Matt Barron’s try and Diveny’s conversion extended the advantage before Williams crossed and added a goal to spark a comeback.

Matty Barber, Danny Inman and Mike Johnson all scored tries and two more Williams goals were responded to by a late Diveny consolation.


ELSEWHERE in division two, Oldham St Anne’s surrendered their unbeaten record in being beaten 40-22 at home by Eccles and Salford Juniors.

It was the first half that did the damage for Saints. A Zac Cotton try in the corner was the only cause for cheer as Andrew Muscat (two), Marc Gilligan and Mark Thomas, plus two Mike Davis goals and a pair from Scott Bowden, gave Eccles a 24–4 half-time lead.

Bowden then converted his own try and added two penalties, responded to by a Danny Chrimes effort goaled by Kiel Lancashire.

Saints produced their best rugby in the final quarter and picked up tries through Jordan White and David Harris, Lancashire kicking twice more, before a Davis penalty and Bowden try rounded the scoring off for the visitors.