WEAVERHAM Rangers RLFC continued to climb their league table with a 30-10 win away to Parr Hare & Hounds on Saturday - their third win in four games.

Rangers' superiority was apparent from the off, with the forwards - led by man of the match Roger Pickering, Roy Mainwaring and Andrew Butler - making significant inroads into the Parr defence.

However, Rangers failed to make the most of their early possession and against the run of play they fell behind to a sloppy try, going 6-0 down.

They were soon back in the game though as Jason Crabtree underlined his value to the side, taking a pass from Dave Gray and cutting through the Parr defence to score out wide.

Weaverham took the lead for the first time after 20 minutes. A surging run from Simon Platt was halted inches from the Parr line, but Mark Bebbington was on hand to poach a try from acting half-back. Gray converted to put Rangers 10-6 ahead.

Parr levelled close to half-time when their full-back scored in the corner after a kick through, but the try was not converted and it was Rangers who secured a 12-10 interval lead thanks to a Gray penalty.

The second half was dominated by Rangers, who allowed Parr very few scoring chances.

Andrew Butler extended Weaverham's lead with a well-deserved try, taking a tapped penalty close to the Parr line and diving over for a four-pointer which Pickering converted.

Pickering then scored a try after taking a short ball from Bebbington 15 yards out, and Gray converted to make it 24-10.

Rangers' last try came when stand-off Gray knocked the ball loose from his opposite number in a tackle and Crabtree was on hand to pick up and score, with Gray again converting.

THIS Saturday, Rangers take on runaway leaders Spotland at Weaverham High School (2.30pm).

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.