WOOLSTON Rovers NCL side return to action this Saturday after a 14-month wait due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when they make the short trip across town to face Crosfields at the Hood Lane Recreation Ground, Kick-off 2.30pm.
Due to the continuing issues with travel, and to cut down unnecessary long road trips in the current climate, the NCL has been split into seven ‘localised’ divisions and Rovers are in League C alongside Crosfields, Clock Face Miners, Oldham St Annes, Rochdale Mayfield, Saddleworth Rangers and Waterhead Warriors whilst they will also face Wigan St Patricks home and away in ‘cross league’ fixtures.
There will they be play-off games following the conclusion of the league fixtures. As in Super League the league standings will be decided on percentage of points available as there will not be sufficient time to fit in any games that are postponed.
Rovers Head of Coaching Mal Holt said, “It really has been such a frustrating time for the lads not being able to play and they are all looking forward to getting back on the field in a competitive fixture; the fact that it is a local ‘derby’ against Crosfields makes it all the more mouth-watering. It will take the lads a little while to get back to the levels they were at when games were suspended in March 2020 but having said that we have had three warm-up fixtures, one of those was in-house between each other, and the boys have certainly exceeded expectation at this stage. With it being so long since we faced Crosfields it will be going into the unknown but one thing I am sure of is that it will be a hard-fought closely contested game but one that we cannot wait to get started in. The lads have been back in training since the end of March and have put a lot of hard work in.”
Rovers ‘A’ have already played two games in NWML Division Three, both away from home at Salford City Roosters and Leigh East ‘A’ and although they have lost both they have certainly put in very credible performances against experienced sides. This Saturday they have their first home game when they entertain Roose Pioneers. Kick-off is 2.30pm at The Limestone Construction Field, Monks Sports Club, Hillock Lane, Woolston.
Rovers ‘A’ Coach Liam Lawton said, “We have had a tough start, but the lads have kept going till the end in each fixture and hopefully that resilience and togetherness will stand us in good stead for our game against Roose. We have a number of new faces in the side, old and new, and once they get used to the way we play then we will be fine.”
If you would like to be involved at Rovers in any capacity, please contact Club Secretary Nikki Whalley on 07889 170895, e-mail [email protected] or log on to the club website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/woolstonroversrlfc/ for further details.
