Saints scrap it out

Photo: Tim Bradley

Waterhead Warriors (stripes) v Oldham St Annes James Shaw of St Annes and Niall Dunnington-Wallcae of Watehead clash

RUGBY: OLDHAM St Anne’s gained local bragging rights after seeing off Waterhead 26-12 on their own patch after a fiercely contested battle.

Up against determined hosts at Peach Road, it wasn’t until Matt Whitehead broke for an interception try that the shackles came off a little for Saints in the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three duel.

Whitehead, the visitors’ stand-out player, also converted and kicked a penalty to leave his side 8-0 up at half-time.

Centre Paul Ainsworth, who also had a strong game, scored an excellent try and winger Craig Basnet and prop Rhys Wareing also crossed to leave St Anne’s sitting pretty.

Waterhead never gave up and registered a pair of tries of their own after pinning Saints back on their own line. Full-back Ciaran Dean and hooker Reece Bradshaw crossed the line, scrum-half Jamie Mayall converting both, before home stand-off Terry Fitzgerald was sent off five minutes from time for foul and abusive language.

“There wasn’t an awful lot in the game,” said St Anne’s joint-coach Sean Whitehead. “It was scrappy and both sides made a lot of mistakes. I never thought that we were in danger, though.

“Our first try settled us down and was a bit of a sickener for them and it was only late on that we let them in.”

Chris Clarke made a return to the first-team ranks for St Anne’s off the bench as he builds towards full fitness and there was a run-out in the second team for fellow ex-Oldham RL man Mick Fogerty.