Rangers' hopes hit as Saints close season with a home reverse

GOING FOR IT . . . St Annes' Jack Hall

THE HOPES of Saddleworth Rangers suffered a dent in Division Two of the Kingstone Press National Conference League, as they suffered a 16-10 defeat at struggling Stanningley.

The Greenfield club - who face a difficult away trip at rivals Thornhill on Saturday - went in front in West Yorkshire thanks to a try from Robert Kivlin.

Stanningley hit back, though, thanks to a Tom Sharp try and with three goals from Niall Murphy led 10-4 at half-time.

It looked better for Rangers when Gareth Morgan touched town, Ben Whitehead adding the conversion to draw the visitors level at 10-10.

But Chris Burke pushed the hosts back in front with only 10 minutes left on the clock and Murphy added the goal to take Stanningley out of the relegation zone with three left to play.

Rangers, meanwhile, occupy the third of four play-off places in a very tight division.

In Division Three, Waterhead Warriors claimed an important victory at Gateshead Storm, winning 30-22.

The two points gained saw Dave Orwell's men leapfrog Dewsbury Moor - who lost 38-10 at home to Crosfields - to end the campaign third-bottom and out of the re-election zone.

Gateshead went in front through a try from Martin Pederson-Scott but fell 26-6 adrift at half-time thanks to warriors tries from Matthew Barran (two), Neil Gooding, Luke Makin and Michael Barratt, with Jamie Mayall kicking three goals.

James Pocklington and Thomas Skidmore (two) pulled the game back for the Storm, with Ryan Clarke kicking a third goal.

Ciaran Dean then eased the gap out to eight points with a late score.

Oldham St Anne's ended their Division Three campaign with a 16-8 home loss to Eastmoor Dragons.

Eastmoor, who now play Woolston Rovers in a play-off semi-final, went behind to a Luke Skilling try at Higginshaw Road.

However, they hit back with a Danny Johnson score that Adie Mulcahy added to for a 6-4 interval advantage.

The visitors then served up tries from Jacob McDermott and Luke Scott, Mulcahy adding another goal, before Craig Basnett grabbed a consolation for Saints.