Off-key Rangers suffer first loss

David Sweeney in action for Higginshaw

SADDLEWORTH Rangers lost their unbeaten record due to a 26-12 defeat away at Castleford Panthers, with coach Keith Brennan describing it as a bad day at the office.

It wasn't that Saddleworth were particularly poor, with man-of-the-match Liam Coates, Jimmy Rogers and Simon Parrish all standing out for their efforts, more that the Castleford side were simply too strong on the day.

"We played well for the first 20 minutes and then let our foot off the gas a bit," said Brennan, whose record now stands at seven wins and one defeat from eight games played.

"Once we went behind we were chasing the game and to be honest we didn't really perform as we know we can.

"It was always going to be difficult to maintain the pace we have set so far over the course of the whole season."

Rangers got off to a good start at Raglan Close, with full-back Tom Lever crossing in the first minute for a try which Michael Coates improved.

But the home side were level soon after thanks to two-try Luke Varley, whose double, allied to a pair of James Clarkson conversions, gave Panthers a lead they never gave up.

Chris Hepworth's try just before the interval left Saddleworth with a mountain to climb at 16-6 down and the task got even harder when Karl Robinson crossed, with Clarkson adding the goal.

Shaun Robinson's try, converted by Michael Coates, gave Rangers hope but with two minutes left Clarkson went over and added a late penalty to secure the points.

The result narrows Saddleworth's advantage at the top of National Conference League division one to two points, with Panthers tucked in behind in second with a game in hand.

In division two, Waterhead suffered a 34–26 home defeat to Eastmoor Dragons who took the game by the scruff of the neck from the start.

Tries from Jamie Dodd and Andy Mulcahy, plus three Leigh Joyce goals, put the visitors into a 14–0 lead.

Chris Hough, back in the amateur ranks after helping out at Oldham Roughyeds this season, claimed a try which was converted by Mick Diveney, before Richard Colley crashed home for a third try which was followed by another from Mike Williams.

Joyce added another two goals to leave Waterhead well up against it, before a Terry Fitzgerald try and a Diveney conversion provided some hope to leave the half-time score at 26-12.

Waterhead started well in the second half and Nick Johnson's try provided fresh impetus.

But Joyce's penalty was followed by a conversion after Colley had gone over for his second try, effectively sealing the victory for Eastmoor.

Craig Highton and Diveney added late tries for Waterhead but it was too little, too late for Mick Slicker's side.

Second-placed Oldham St Anne’s were without a first-team fixture in division two.