WATERHEAD WARRIORS, newly promoted to the Premier Division of the National Conference League, duly won the prestigious STANDARD CUP with a 48-10 triumph against arch-rivals OLDHAM ST ANNES at Boundary Park on Saturday,
writes ROGER HALSTEAD
.
A crowd of 1,386 saw St Annes, of the NCL Division One, trail only 16-6at half-time, but Waterhead’s greater speed and strength enabled them to score six tries in the second half — two from long range.
The Warriors fielded several ex-Oldham professionals and man-of-the-match Kegan Brennan, winner of the Ben Powell Trophy, is the son of their coach Keith Brennan, another former Roughyeds player.
Waterhead scored nine tries in total, including three by fullback Jenson Hamilton and others by Harrison Dodd, Phil Joy, Gareth Owen, Brennan, Tim Bridge and Adam Robinson, while Brennan landed six goals, two from the touchline.
Scorers for St Annes, who did well to bridge the gulf in class until the second half, were Joe Hartley and Alex Ayres (tries) and Matthew Whitehead (goal). Substitute forward Ayres, who seemed to have his own personal cheerleaders, was one of the stand-out St Annes players.