Saints off to flier in hard-fought derby

TOUGH GOING . . . Jason Best of St Anne’s makes the hard yards.

Rugby:

OLDHAM St Anne's prevailed in the opening-day battle of the rivals at Higginshaw Road.

But while Waterhead were defeated 38-22 in this first National Conference Interim League Group 'E' clash of the season, there was little reason for the Peach Road side to bow their heads.

It was a terrific, nip-and-tuck tussle in which both teams played their part.

Matthew Barran's try and a goal for the returning Carl Sneyd took Waterhead into the lead before big prop Michael Cadd dived over, Kiel Lancashire's boot levelling the scores.

Players from both teams were sin-binned in a typically hard-fought derby, but once Dave Harris ran home out wide for a Lancashire-goaled try, Saints didn't give up their lead.

Jason Best's break and Dave Hewitt's support play handed St Anne's a 18-6 lead at half-time.

Darren Nixon responded after the interval for Waterhead. But, with Jordan White to the fore, Greg Worrall and Hewitt added to the home team's advantage.

Danny Kay made sure of the points with a score on the hour that was converted by Lancashire, before Waterhead responded strongly with tries from Steven Kiss and Dale Lowe, both goaled by Sneyd, which sandwiched a White try for St Anne's.

In Group 'C', it wasn't such a good start for a new-look Saddleworth Rangers side who lost 52-6 at last season's Grand Finalists Siddal.

The home team had the game sewn up by half-time thanks to tries from Shaun Garrod, Nicky Smith, Gareth Blackburn, Gareth English and Emerson Newburn, plus four Blackburn goals.

The 28-0 lead was stretched further after the interval as more tries by Stephen Illingworth, Chris Brook and Luke Simeunovich were coupled with four more Blackburn conversions.

Ethan Langhorn got Rangers' sole try, Jack Bradbury converting.