Champions too strong for Saints

OLDHAM St Anne’s 24, Millom 49

MILLOM secured the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two title with victory over bottom side St Anne’s.


Watched by supporters of Featherstone Lions en route to Old Trafford for the Super League Grand Final, Saints fell behind inside three minutes when hooker Marcus O’Brien went over at the side of the posts.

Player-coach Tom Sibley scored another try within two minutes, with Adam Kelly adding both goals.

Millom man-of-the-match Warwick Carter then split the home defence with a superb solo try. Kelly added the extras and, shortly after, produced a drop-goal for a 19-0 lead.

Substitute Ryan Dalton opened the scoring for the home side, Greg Worrall adding the goal. Millom centre Chris Warren scored under the posts, and Kelly added the goal to open up a 25-6 advantage.

Within a minute of the restart, Saints’ Chris Carter handed to Carl Fields, who scored. Worrall added the conversion.

The home side launched another attack, but the ball went astray and Anthony Dixon raced under the posts. Kelly converted.

Saints suffered a blow when Fields was shown a red card for an alleged high shot on his own line, and the alert Warwick Carter secured his second try of the game.

Being a man down did not affect St Anne’s, who ran in three unconverted tries through Jonny Kelly, Sam Akeroyd and Mick Smith to close the gap to 35-24.

But Millom tries from winger Ricky Donoghue and O’Brien sealed victory. Kelly added to the latter try with a goal, after he and Paul Evans had both landed a penalty apiece.