After winning dramatically at Leigh Miners Rangers to clinch promotion, Waterhead will play in the Premier Division of the National Conference League.
It has been a meteoric rise for the Oldham club, who in the last full season before Covid, finished 8th in Division Three.
Since 2022, it has been a different story and the club has now won three successive promotions.
When the sides met in Oldham earlier in the season, Waterhead claimed a 26-16 success and looked on course for a comfortable victory after 20 minutes following two early tries.
Their first score came after just three minutes when fullback Jenson Hamilton chimed into the line on the left to devastating effect to score his 10th try of the season and although halfback Kegan Brennan couldn't convert, he was able to add the extras after Andrew Joy went in from a Danny Bridge pass after sixteen minutes.
Leigh Miners Rangers only had fleeting attacks in the first twenty minutes but as the half moved on, they started to get into the game and a lovely pass from Harvey Gotts put second-row Matty McGeown in a bit of space and he made the most to add his second try of the year. Sam Pilkington goaled to make it 6-10 after 25 minutes.
Four minutes later Waterhead were in again when a double run-around unlocked the defence and Brennan went over by the posts and converted following a final pass by Gareth Owen.
The hosts then hit Waterhead with a swift double salvo of tries. The first came after 32 minutes when Marco Williamson put the ball high and a spillage was mopped up by Will Ashworth who ran to the posts. Then Ben Turner supported after Owen Hoyles broke the line. Pilkington goaled both to nudge the Miners in front.
From the second restart, Danny Bridge shot forward and a high tackle saw him pick up an injury and receive a red card. There was still enough time at the end of the half for Pilkington to miss a penalty which came in the set of possession following a break forward by Harrison Dodd.
At the start of the second half, Waterhead pushed close to the line through the outstanding Phil Joy and when Jack Hamer jumped out to tackle Jake O'Grady, he was in an offside position and the visitors levelled the scores with the penalty from Brennan.
That was how it remained until the hour mark when Waterhead rolled down the ground and Leigh Miners Rangers were offside. Brennan kicked the penalty to make it 18-20 to Waterhead.
Minutes later Gotts somehow got the ball back from a shallow kick and fired a bounced pass wide to Lewis Grimes before an excellent cover tackle from Callum Murphy brought him down.
Then four minutes from the end Waterhead struck the decisive blow when Phil Joy forced his way through on a last tackle play and Brennan added his 5th goal to secure that promotion spot.
Elsewhere in Division One there were wins for play-off chasing Ince Rose Bridge (32-26 at Clock Face), Dewsbury Moor Maroons (40-10 against Stanningley) and Oulton Raiders (20-10 at Skirlaugh) and Hull Dockers boosted their survival hopes with a 22-4 success over Wigan St Pats.
In the Premier Division, Rochdale Mayfield edged home 20-14 at York Acorn, West Hull returned to winning ways with a 42-0 defeat of Kells and Wath Brow Hornets edged a thrilling game against Thatto Heath to strengthen their play-off bid. There were also big wins for leaders Siddal (50-0 at Heworth) and Hunslet (46-4 against Egremont) while Lock Lane secured Premier Division status for another season and zoned in on the final play-off spot with a hard-fought 17-10 win at Odsal over West Bowling.
Normanton are fourth in Division Two after a 30-12 win over Thornhill on Friday night, while Shaw Cross Sharks strengthened their grip on the top spot with a 54-10 win at Pilkington Recs, keeping them two points clear of Wigan St Judes who accounted for Barrow Island in Cumbria, 30-18. Saddleworth boosted their survival hopes with a 38-24 home success over Millom while Ellenborough had a strong 42-4 defeat of Myton. Dewsbury Celtic were the other winners edging Oldham St Annes 17-10 away from home.
In Division Three, Leigh East defeated promotion-chasing Distington 44-6 while Hensingham maintained their pressure with a 38-0 success over Seaton and Drighlington won 30-18 at Bentley.
By Dave Parkinson
