WOOLSTON ROVERS 34 ROCHDALE MAYFIELD 14
WOOLSTON Rovers produced a superb all-round team performance to claim an excellent victory against Rochdale Mayfield at the Limestone Construction Field, Monks Sports Club, a team normally playing in the National Conference League Premier Division.
Rovers were in control for the vast majority of what was at times a bruising game and their composure and very good discipline throughout paved the way for a convincing win over a Mayfield side that had four players sin binned and one sent off.
The home side opened the scoring in the seventh minute when a strong run from prop forward Harry Files saw him get held just short but from the play the ball hooker Adam Files found stand-off Theo Holt who put centre Dan Griffiths through a nd he twisted in the tackle to score on the left. Full back Aaron Barber converted but four minutes later Mayfield responded when winger Brad Gartland made a forty-metre break and from a quick play the ball they sent the ball through five sets of hands for second-row Niall Bradley to score on the right.
Rovers were soon back on the offensive and a strong run from second row Cameron Davies got his side close to the posts and A Files went from dummy half and forced his way over under the posts despite having four defenders in attendance. Barber converted and then midway through the half Mayfield had prop forward Simon Moore sin-binned for dissent and from the resulting penalty A Files kept the ball alive and fed scrum-half Ryan Brown who put second row Dan Fearnley over on the right. Barber added the conversion.
Mayfield were then rewarded for a period of territorial advantage when slick hands saw the ball reach scrum-half Aidy Gleeson and his inside ball put full-back Jordan Parr over at the side of the posts. Hooker Cole Connolly converted but then seven minutes before the break a lovely chip into the in-goal area by Brown saw Rovers substitute Josh Sudlow react quickest to score at the side of the posts. Barber added the conversion to give his side a 24-10 halftime lead.
Three minutes into the second half quick hands by rovers saw the ball reach Holt who found D Griffiths at speed and he powered over wide out on the left and seven minutes later Mayfield had Moore dismissed for a high tackle and then on the hour the visitors had centre Andy Taylor sin binned for dissent before a skirmish saw Mayfield temporarily reduced to ten men when Connolly was yellow carded along with Rovers Barber.
The numerical advantage for Rovers was exploited when a great run by H Files split the Mayfield defence and his superb inside ball found substitute Rob Griffiths, who had just entered the field seconds earlier, who raced over under the posts. Fellow substitute Dom Ball, who came on at the same time, converted and then Mayfield had second row Liam Donnelly dismissed for punching before claiming a consolation try two minutes from time when Taylor burrowed over from close range to make the final score 34-14 in rovers favour.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers hooker Adam Files; he was very well supported by prop forward Harry Files, centre Kieran Moore and scrum half Ryan Brown.
After the game Rovers Head of Coaching Mal Holt said, “That was one of the best results in my time at Woolston! It was a very physical and aggressive game with some meaty hits, legal and illegal, that led to a number of disagreements throughout the eighty minutes and at one point Mayfield were reduced to 10 men! We just played as we have done for the last few weeks; our pack was fantastic throughout and stood toe to toe with their higher league opponents allowing our backs to hurt Rochdale all afternoon. We have set our standard again today and we just need to continue playing in this manner. Rob Campbell and myself are working hard to create a great spirit and togetherness at the club and results like today show that we are getting there.”
ROVERS
Aaron Barber, Craig Middlemore, Kieran Moore, Dan Griffiths, Callum Moore, Theo Holt, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Adam Files, Harry Files, Dan Fearnley, Cameron Davies, Scott Whiteley.
Subs: Dom Ball, Josh Sudlow, Sam Roberts, Rob Griffiths.
Tries
D Griffiths (7 mins, 43), A Files (16), Fearnley (22), Sudlow (33), R Griffiths (69).
Goals
Barber 4, Ball 1
Referee: Sam Houghton.
Woolston Rovers NCL side travel to Oldham St Annes this coming Saturday in the NCL League C looking to make it a hat trick of wins after opening the season with victories over Crosfields and Rochdale Mayfield. Kick off is 2.30pm at Higginshaw Road, Oldham.
Rovers Head of Coaching Mal Holt said, “We had a disruptive week at training before the Mayfield game which made the win all the more sweet but we will be back at it this week and Rob Campbell and myself will prepare them the best that we can for what is always a difficult trip to Oldham. The start we have had has been very pleasing and the exciting thing is that we know we have a lot more improvement in us. The whole Open Age squad is really united and that is showing on the field. We had another couple of players who were promoted to the NCL side after impressing in the NWML team over the past couple of weeks and I that there are others who are knocking on the door.”
Rovers ‘A’ return to action on Saturday with a home local ‘derby’ against Culcheth Eagles in the NWML Division Three. Kick off is 2.30pm at The Limestone Construction Field, Monks Sports Club, Hillock Lane, Woolston.
Rovers ‘A’ Coach Liam Lawton said, “We have played well in patches in all of our opening three games but little lapses in concentration have proved costly. We will be looking to put these things right on Saturday against a strong Culcheth side. Hopefully we can eliminate the errors that have hurt us and if we can do that then we will have a great chance of getting the right result.”
If you would like to be involved at Rovers in any capacity, contact 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.
