Rylands Sharks 58 Oldham St Annes 16

RYLANDS celebrated their first home game in two months with an emphatic win over Oldham St Annes.

Back-rower Nick Braide stormed over for a hat-trick, while Tyler Whittaker grabbed two as Sharks grabbed just their second win of the season.

They move up to seventh in the National Conference League Division Three table and head coach Matt Wilson was pleased to finally see things go his side’s way.

“It was a very clinical and structured performance from us,” he said.

“The league table doesn’t lie but I said to the boys in the week we are not far off, a couple of bounces of the ball and a little bit of luck we could have come into this game right in the mix and I firmly believe those things will even themselves out as the season unfolds.”

The visitors actually took the lead through Luke Skilling, but the hosts hit back with five unanswered tries before the break.

Whittaker, Matty Taylor, Aaron Holiday and two from Braide, plus four goals from Jack Lewis, gave Rylands a 28-6 lead at half-time, an advantage they never looked like relinquishing.

Luke Gillooley and Oldham’s Rhys Waring traded scores after the break before Braide completed his hat-trick and Warrington Wolves reserve player Whittaker crossed for his second.

Dave Walker added his name to the scoresheet before another Oldham consolation from John Horton, but Rylands had the last laugh when Gavin Conroy crossed in the closing stages.

The win provided a much-needed boost for Sharks, who are on the road again next week when they face Castleford Panthers.

Rylands: Lewis; Holiday, Conroy, Whittaker, Gillooley; Walker, Doyle; Shaw, Harris, Unsworth, Woods, Braide, Dean. Subs: Walker, Taylor, Thompson, Campbell.