WOOLSTON Rovers will be looking to continue their fine run of form when they travel to Dewsbury Moor Maroons for their first away game of the season in the National Conference League Division Two on the back of a 42-16 victory over Beverley at the weekend.
The coach leaves Monk Sports Club at 11.45am for any supporters wishing to travel.
Rovers Head of Rugby Mal Holt said: “We are genuinely excited to test ourselves in an away game for the first time this campaign. After having four home games it will be good to go on our travels and see how we perform.
“I have been really pleased with the way that we have played over the past few weeks but know that we will need to up our game even further if we are to come away with the league points.
“Dewsbury are always formidable on their own ground, with a vociferous supportive crowd behind them, but we have to block that out and concentrate on our own game and if we do then I feel we have a great chance of getting the right result.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Rovers produced an excellent performance to defeat a spirited Beverley side in the National Conference League Division Two at the Limestone Construction Field, Monks Sports Club, to make it three wins on the spin to move into second place in the league table.
Prior to the NCL game, Rovers Under 13s Greens defeated Waterhead Warriors in a curtain-raiser, and then mascots were provided from the Under 7s, Under 8s, Under 9s and Under 10s whilst the ballboys were from the Under 12 side making it a truly ‘club’ afternoon.
Rovers opened the scoring in the twelfth-minute standoff Theo Holt brilliantly stepped through a gap to core on the right. Scrum-half Ben Dixon converted and then eleven minutes later great work by prop forward Harry Files saw him offload to hooker Adam Files who broke through two tackles and found Dixon in support to score under the posts. Dixon added the conversion to his own try.
Beverley got off the mark on the half-hour when scrum-half Lewis Poskitt found standoff Fran Coggle who evaded three defenders to score on the left. Full-back Josh Poskitt converted but then six minutes later a great break by Rovers centre Dan Fearnley was carried on by H Files and after substitute, Sam Wood was held ten metres short A Files went from dummy half and brushed off three defenders to score at the left of the posts. Dixon added the conversion.
A minute before the break great hands by Rovers on the last tackle saw the ball whipped across the width of the pitch before substitute Paul Alcock put Fearnley through a huge gap to score on the right. Dixon converted to give Rovers a healthy 24-6 halftime advantage.
Seven minutes into the second half Rovers substitute Matt Jenkins was sin-binned for holding down and three repeat sets for Beverley paid off as the extra man created an overlap for winger Beau English to score in the right corner. J Poskitt converted from out wide and then just before Rovers returned to a full compliment of players Beverley went over once again when L Poskitt made a great break that split the Rovers defence and h found centre Jon Norman on his outside to score in the left corner and reduce the deficit to eight points.
Just after the hour mark Rovers put paid to any hopes of a Beverley comeback when H Files was held just short and A Files went from dummy half and brushed off three defenders to score at the side of the posts. Dixon converted and then four minutes later a lovely chip into the in-goal area by full-back Morgan Williams saw winger Dan Griffiths pounce to score on the left. Dixon added the conversion.
Eight minutes from time A Files once again caused havoc in the Beverley defence as he went from dummy half and found second row Alex Smith who powered over on the left. Dixon completed a perfect afternoon with the boot by landing his seventh conversion to round off a very impressive 42-16 win for the Green & Gold men.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers loose forward Ryan Brown. He was very well supported by stand-off Theo Holt, prop forward Harry Files and hooker Adam Files.
After the game Rovers Head of rugby Mal Holt said, “That was a great result for us to make it three on the bounce. Beverley provided us with tough opposition but we performed very well to turn in an impressive display. Our pack were very physical and set the platform for our backs to control the game and provide the structure to punish the visitors. I thought we out enthused them in defence and had more quality in attack. It is still early days and the hard work continues next week as we take our first step away from home at Dewsbury Moor Maroons.”
ROVERS
Morgan Williams, Dan Griffiths, Dan Fearnley, Tom Byrne, James Tarpey, Theo Holt, Ben Dixon, Harry Files, Adam Files, Sam Roberts, Alex Smith, Ryan Hickman, Ryan Brown.
Subs: Callum Moore, Sam Wood, Paul Alcock, Matt Jenkins.
Tries
Holt (12 mins), Dixon (23), A Files (36, 61), Fearnley (39), Griffiths (65), Smith (72).
Goals
Dixon 7
BEVERLEY
Josh Poskitt, Lewis Miller, Alex Nutall, Jon Norman, Beau English, Fran Coggle, Lewis Poskitt, Dan Smart, Dan Precious, Ellis Dickinson, Casey Hutchinson, Alex Calvert, Josh Hamlyn.
Subs: Jake Hart-Fisher, Steve Connolly, Joe Rose, Kingsley Overton.
Tries
Coggle (30 mins), English (50), Norman (55).
Goals
J Poskitt 2