Woolston Rovers aiming to bounce back from derby defeat to Crosfields

WOOLSTON Rovers will be looking to bounce back from their 28-16 defeat at Crosfields last Friday when they entertain Hunslet Warriors in the National Conference League Division Two at the Limestone Construction Field, Monk Sports Club on Saturday afternoon, kick-off 2.30pm.

Rovers Head of Rugby Mal Holt said, “We were disappointed to have lost last week but the manner of our performance really pleased me and if we can take that approach into our remaining games then we will have a great chance of finishing the season on a high. We welcome Hunslet Warriors to our ground this week for another tough test; we have had some titanic battles over the past few years and I’m sure that this one will be another eagerly anticipated encounter.

“We drew 19-19 at their place in April but I feel we are in a much better place now than we was then and hopefully that will show in our performance on Saturday. We have had six away games on the bounce so it will be nice for us to have a home game for a change. It is also our annual sponsor’s Day and past players’ reunion so promises to be a fantastic day; all are welcome to come along and enjoy the occasion which will be followed by a Race Night in the evening.”

While Rovers produced a very strong display, three unanswered tries in the final quarter saw Crosfields come from behind to claim a very hard-fought ‘derby’ victory in an excellent National Conference League Division Two game at Hood Lane Recreation Ground last Friday evening.

Crosfields opened the scoring in the second minute when an error by Rovers gave them a scrum twenty metres out and scrum-half Joe Barnes found centre Jack Fox out wide and his quick ‘tip’ pass put winger Luke Walker over in the left corner but then thirteen minutes later Rovers replied when good work by hooker Adam Files saw him keep the ball alive before finding loose forward Ryan Brown and his smart ball put substitute Scott Whiteley over on the left. Centre Aaron Barber added the conversion.

Soap regained the lead midway through the half when on the last tackle stand-off Jack Lewis found Barnes and his long ball put Fox through a gap to score on the left. Lewis converted but then just before the interval Rovers once again kept the ball alive close to the line and A Files managed to stretch out and score at the side of the posts despite the attention of three defenders. Barber added the conversion to give his side a deserved 12-10 halftime advantage.

Rovers stretched their lead thirteen minutes into the second half when pressure on the Crosfields line paid off as A Files found second row Alex Smith who used his strength to score on the right but then just after the hour mark quick hands by Crosfields created space for centre John Whittaker to send winger Ben Steele away to score on the right. Lewis added the conversion to level matters at 16-16.

Four minutes later Crosfields hooker Hayden James made a great forty metre break down the middle that split the Rovers defence and he found Barnes in support to race over under the posts. Lewis converted and then with four minutes remaining a kick out wide by Barnes on the last tackle was collected by Steele and he raced away to score under the posts. Lewis added the conversion to complete a 28-16 win for the home side in a great game of rugby.

Best for Rovers were loose forward Ryan Brown, second row Dan Fearnley and hooker Adam Files. Crosfields were best served by hooker Hayden James, second row Joe Barnes and centre Jack Fox.

After the game Rovers Head of Rugby Mal Holt said, “It was a great advert for Warrington amateur rugby; the game was really close all the way through with nothing between the sides. I felt that we played well and were comfortable until a few lapses of concentration allowed Crosfields to score three unanswered tries in the last twenty minutes which made the final scoreline a little harsh on our lads. Both teams gave a good account of themselves and it was just the little extra ‘strike play’ that proved vital in the end. We can certainly take a lot of positives from the game and look forward to the next month of fixtures that can put us in a strong position for the play offs.”

SOAP
Jamie Abram, Ben Steele, John Whittaker, Jack Fox, Luke Walker, Jack Lewis, Joe Barnes, Matt Barber, Hayden James, Jacob Chamberlain, Dean Beddall, Tom Millington, Joe Clarke.
Subs: Ben Stevens, Jack Wright, Brad McAlpine, Ben Mellor.

Referee: Phil Loeb (Warrington).