Saints battle to top of the table
Reporter: Local sport
Date published: 26 October 2009
Photo: Picture by: Chris Sunderland
COLLISION COURSE: Andrew Sands (St Anne’s) takes on the Crosfields defence, marshalled by Matt Pitt.
OLDHAM St Anne’s moved to the top of National Conference League division two with a 34-20 home win over Crosfields — but were made to work all the way against strong opponents.
Danny Kay opened the scoring for the Higginshaw Road side, scooting over from dummy-half in the third minute.
Chris Burgess levelled with a try in the corner but Kay was soon in the action again, slipping a pass for Darren Fletcher to cross out wide.
Again the visitors hit back and the score was locked at 8-8 at half-time when Burgess went over for his second of the game.
Within two minutes of the restart, an error was forced deep in Saints territory and substitute John Pickersgill span out of a tackle to put his side ahead with a Jimmy Williams-goaled try.
St Anne’s responded six minutes later when David Harris sent in John Gillam on the left but once more Crosfields hit back, Pickersgill grabbing a second which Williams added a conversion to.
The final quarter brought the best out of Saints. Winger Dane English touched down to bring the score back to 20-16 and Danny Chrimes then profited by running home an 80-metre interception try, Kiel lancashire scoring his first goal of the afternoon to sneak the home team in front.
The points were secured in the final 10 minutes of a thrilling game when Fletcher and Harris both crossed for Lancashire-goaled tries.
SADDLEWORTH Rangers stay at the top of division one thanks to a comfortable 50-16 home victory over promoted Myton Warriors.
The visitors from Hull, in only their second season in the competition, travelled with a weakened line-up and were put to the sword to trail 28-0 by half-time.
They did recover to score three second-half tries through Paul Morris, Chris Wainman and Mike Johnson, Morris converting twice.
But by that point Rangers — whose stand-off Michael Coates picked up the man-of-the-match award — were well in front on a day in which tries arrived through Fraser Coley (two), Adam Kirwan (two), Shaun Robinson, Stephen Nield, Tom Lever, Adam Walker and Jason Best, Coates adding six goals and a penalty.
WATERHEAD were beaten 32-0 away from home in division two, a fourth defeat in seven games played so far this season for Mick Slicker’s side.
