Thatto Heath C 24 Waterhead 19: HEATH maintained their winning start to the season with this hard-fought victory.

With the strong wind at their backs, the visitors got off to a flying start with a try by prop Rory Freek and a goal and a drop goal by full-back Neil Gooding.

Heath hit back with a try by winger Neil Prescott from a quickly-taken tap penalty by Darren Mitchell, but two two further drop goals by Gooding made it 9-4 to the Oldham outfit.

An Andy Benson penalty on the half-hour narrowed the gap before Heath took the lead for the first time when Chris Honey barged over from close range following a Mitchell break.

Waterhead though regained the advantage just before half-time when a long ball by stand-off Lee Sculthorpe sent centre Dean Nixon in for a try.

Heath started strongly after the break and they quickly regained the lead with a try by winger Mike Woods who squeezed through the narrowest of gaps to score wide out.

Waterhead replied with a converted try but two penalties by Benson kept Heath just a point adrift at 18-19.

With both sides battling supremacy Benson's fourth penalty goal edged Heath ahead again and then second-row Geoff Williams charged over for an unconverted try to make it 24-19.

Waterhead tried hard to regain the advatange but stout defence, particularly from the pack, saw the home side hold out for a victory which takes them to joint top of the National Conference Division One.

Darren Mitchell and Chris Honey were Heath's men of the match.

Featherstone Lions visit Red Rocks on Saturday and after the game there will be a collection and social event in aid of their former captain Simon Tuffs who was tragically injured in a recent holiday accident.

Thatto Heath C u/15s 20

Moss Bank Bulldogs 16

CRUSADERS just got the better of a hard-fought encounter.

The home side raced into an early 10-0 lead before Bulldogs hit back with tries by Danny Martin and skipper Richard Twist to trail 14-8 at the interval.

After the break the visitors stepped up a gear and further tries by man-of-the-match Chris Rigby and winger Jonny Cahill edged them ahead at 16-14.

But with just minutes to go Crusaders grabbed what proved to be the decisive score.

Also worthy of mention for the losers were Martin Heyes, Shawn Clark, Alex Woodward and Keiron Walsh.

Rylands u/9s 14 Crusaders 38

THIS was a good start to the new season for the Crusaders with tries coming from coach's award winner Ryan Smith (3), newcomer Jamie Bradshaw (2), man-of-the-match John Fishwick and top tackler Liam Fishwick.

Goals were added by Ben Smith, Danny Glover and Luke Longworth.

Crusaders are on the lookout for a suitably qualified coach to coach their under 7s team. Anyone interested can contact Janet Haselden on 01942 749044.

The club are also seeking to strengthen their squads, particularly at under 10s and under 11s.

Haydock A 6 Culcheth 10

A LATE try by former Oldham centre Paul Topping gave Culcheth the points.

Barton scored the Haydock try, converted by Davies.

Ken Roberts took the Thirsty Yicker man-of-the-match award for the losers, ahead of List and Lybet, and there good tackling stints by Richardson, Dale and Dugdale.