Depleted team pull off cup shock

SADDLEWORTH ‘A’ caused an upset in the Lancashire Cup as they won 22-14 at first-division Bold Miners despite missing several regulars.

A youthful Saddleworth side, who are without a point in division three of the Kukri North-West Counties League, took the lead when stand-off Steven Nield burst through from halfway and side-stepped a couple of defenders to score a converted try under the posts.

Bold responded with a try and goal before Jack Brennan dashed down the blindside on the stroke of half-time for a try which put Saddleworth 10-6 ahead.

Well marshalled by evergreen Danny Atherton, Rangers added two more converted scores from Danny Adams and Adam Jeffries to keep their noses in front in the second half.

Apart from Atherton, Adams, Adam Walker and Jack Brennan also showed up well for Rangers as they marched into the next round.

Waterhead joined Rangers after a 18-0 defeat of Halton Farnworth, but Oldham St Anne’s are out after they were beaten 28-12 at Orrell St James.

In division four of the North-West Counties League, Higginshaw

produced a great recovery to leave second-placed Leigh Central Lions with a share of the spoils.

The visitors trailed 20 points to 12 at one stage, but fought back to draw 20-20.

Ryan O’Donnell, gathering a chip into the corner, put Higgy ahead in the seventh minute. David Sweeney added the extras.

But Leigh hit back with two tries, one of which was converted, to lead to 10-6 at the midway point of the first half.

Scott Foote and Chris Tomlin went close for Higgy, but it was the home side who increased their advantage with a converted try.

A Foote touchdown followed by a Sweeney goal reduced the arrears, only for Leigh to retaliate with a try of their own.

But Higgy refused to be beaten. O’Donnell set Mark Ward free with a delightful pass for a walk-in try with 10 minutes to go.

And they levelled with 60 seconds left when Paul Turner burst on to a short ball. Unfortunately, Sweeney’s conversion sailed just wide on the strong wind.