CROSFIELDS 14 WOOLSTON ROVERS 36
WOOLSTON Rovers returned to National Conference League action for the first time in over 14 months and produced an excellent display to claim a very good away win at near-neighbours Crosfields in League C at Hood Lane on Saturday afternoon.
Rovers opened the scoring after twelve minutes when scrum-half Ryan Brown played the ball quickly and hooker Adam Files profited from this as he sold a ‘dummy’ before scooting on his own from ten metres out to score under the posts. Standoff Theo Holt converted and then five minutes later a long ball out wide from Brown found winger Karlton Bates who scored in the right corner.
Crosfields responded soon afterwards when pressure on the Rovers line was rewarded as scrum-half John Whittaker went over under the posts. Hooker Jack Reid converted and then nine minutes before the break Whittaker intercepted a Rovers pass and went seventy metres to score wide out and make the halftime score 10-10.
Four minutes into the second half Rovers moved back in front when a short ball from A Files found substitute Josh Sudlow who fended off two defenders to score and then nine minutes later a great run by second row Dan Fearnley split the Soap defence and he found Sudlow in space on his inside and he went over wideout.
Crosfields responded again when they forced Rovers into a handling error and the loose ball was picked up and sent out to centre Lewis Hall who scored on the left but then just after the hour mark a high cross field pass by the home side was pounced on by Fearnley who raced away on an unchallenged seventy metre run to score under the posts. Brown added the conversion.
Rovers made sure of the points when A Files forced his way over from close range. Brown converted and then in the final minute A Files went over once again to complete a fine hat trick. Bates added the conversion to round off a very impressive 36-14 win.
The man of the match was awarded to Rovers hooker Adam Files. He was very well supported by second row Dan Fearnley and substitute Josh Sudlow. For Crosfields scrum half John Whittaker was their star man, ably supported by second-row Mitch McJay and centre Lewis Hall.
After the game Rovers Head of Coaching Mal Holt said, “That was a great performance today from the whole team. The first half was an arm wrestle, and it was probably a fair reflection that we went in level at half rim but in the second half we controlled the game, executing our plays much better and we stepped up more aggressively in defence. Unfortunately, we lost full back Ben Dixon after less than ten minutes to an ankle injury which forced us into a reshuffle that could have disrupted us, but we just knuckled down and that makes the win even sweeter. The only sour note was the injury to Ben but hopefully he will not be out for too long. We need to work on a few things at training ready for Rochdale Mayfield next week, but everyone involved today should be proud of this result.”
SOAP
Luke Walker, Dan Reid, Dani Garcia-O’Brien, Lewis Hall, Aaron Holliday, Brad Stanway, John Whittaker, Tom Brown, Jack Reid, Ben Mellor, Ben Kenwright, Mitch McJay, Alex Thompson.
Subs: Kellen Wood, Matty Barber, Elliot Like, Elliot Bridge-Budgen.
Tries
Whittaker (25 mins, 31), Hall (57).
Goals
Reid 1
ROVERS
Ben Dixon, Craig Middlemore, Kieran Moore, Dan Griffiths, Karlton Bates, Theo Holt, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Adam Files, Harry Files, Dan Fearnley, Cameron Davies, Scott Whiteley.
Subs:James Jones, Josh Sudlow, Sam Roberts, Ben Moore.
Tries
A Files (12 mins, 69, 80), Bates (17), Sudlow (44, 53), Fearnley (61).
Goals
Holt 1, Brown 2, Bates 1
Referee: Sam Houghton.
