Crosfields 34 Saddleworth Rangers 14

SATURDAY’S crucial victory over Saddleworth Rangers at Hood Lane kept Crosfields’ hopes of a play-off spot in National Conference League Division Two alive.

Six tries from six different scorers ensured victory for Mark Brennan’s side, with Alex Clutterbuck and Phil Brazendale crossing before the break.

After the interval, Brad Stanway, Hayden James, Chris Hull and skipper Jack Reid, who also added five conversions, got over the whitewash for Soap.

“It was a good win for us against a good side. We played some nice stuff in the game and scored some nice tries,” head coach Brennan said.

“I think that quality of performance has been there all season, we just lacked some confidence in the middle part.

"We have won two out of our past three games and showed great effort and charcter in defeat against the champions Oulton.

“If we perform and get the result against Drighlington on Saturday, we have a chance of making the play-offs, which would be a great achievement for the boys.”

Clutterbuck collected Reid’s telling chip to the corner to open the scoring before Jordan Williams’ break set up a quick play-the-ball and allowed Brazendale to cross.

Josh Bradbuty went over with the final play of the first half to get Saddleworth on the board before Nathan Roebuck raced the length of the field just after the restart to ensure Soap’s lead was cut to two points.

However, Soap responded admirably and Reid sent half-back partner Stanway galloping to the line.

The home defence remained resolute amid heavy Saddleworth pressure and James turned the focus to attack when he raced through a gap, brushing aside defenders to score.

A sweeping move then sent Hull over out wide before Danny Bowker scored a similar effort to keep the visitors just about alive.

Reid had the last say though as he latched onto Hull’s inside ball to round off the scoring.

Soap, who sit seventh in the table, host Drighlington in the season’s final game on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

Victory, coupled with sixth-placed Askam losing at Wigan St Judes, will give them a chance of overtaking them and sneaking into the play-offs.