Saddleworth success

SADDLEWORTH RANGERS ‘A’ (with ball) attack the Eccles defence.

AMATEUR RUGBY: THE GAME between Saddleworth Rangers 'A' and Eccles and Salford Juniors was the only one involving local sides to be played out in the North-West Counties League — and the Greenfield outfit were glad of it too, securing a come-from behind 26-18 victory which keeps them in mid-table in Division Four.

Finding themselves 12-0 down midway through the first half, Rangers pulled themselves back into the contest with a pair of unconverted tries from Danny Bowker and James Brennan, the latter of which came in a move in which eight players touched the ball.

A lack of concentration allowed Eccles in for another converted try before the interval to leave the visitors 18-8 up at half-time.

A much-improved second-half performance saw tries arrive from man-of-the-match Josh Brown, Jack Molden, Danny Bullen and a second from Bowker, with one Ryan O'Donnell conversion easing Rangers home.

Oldham St Anne's forfeited their game at Clock Face 18-0 in Division One, while other matches fell victim to frost.

Haresfinch against Higginshaw in Division Three, Rochdale Cobras' clash with Bamber Bridge in Division Four and Fitton Hill's away trip to Culcheth in Division Six were all unable to take place as a result of frozen playing surfaces.

In Division Five of the Pennine League, the same was true of Hollinwood's game against visiting Whitehall Warriors.