Rangers roar back

RUGBY: AFTER waiting 13 games without a win, Saddleworth Rangers can boast two from two.

Craig Farrimond’s men displayed great powers of recovery as they fought back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to beat Salford City Roosters 32-26 at Shaw Hall Bank Road.

The win lifted Rangers off the bottom of Kingstone Press National Conference League Division One.

The hosts were staring down the barrel after shipping three tries in the opening half-an-hour. Jordan Parker went in, along with Andrew Muscat and Christian Higgins. Parker kicked all three conversions and a penalty.

All Rangers had to show for their efforts in that time period was Danny Bowker’s fourth-minute try.

Crucially, though, Rangers got on the board again before the break, with Ethan Langhorn’s touchdown goaled by Ben Whitehead.

If the opening period belonged to the Roosters, it was all Rangers in the second half. The Langhorn/Whitehead combination reduced the deficit to four points five minutes after the restart.

Rangers then found themselves in front when Phil Wood’s 50th-minute score was converted by Whitehead, and it got even better for the home side moments later thanks to Bowker’s second try of the afternoon and Whitehead’s successful kick.

Bradley White’s score just before the hour, goaled by Parker, kept Rangers on their toes. But Liam Hall’s try eight minutes from time settled matters.

Rangers will be seeking a third consecutive victory at bottom club Wigan St Judes on Saturday.