All set for “mouth-watering” local derby as Woolston Rovers travel to Crosfields

WOOLSTON Rovers make the short trip across town to face Crosfields in a mouth-watering ‘derby’ clash in the National Conference League Division Two on Friday evening; kick-off is 7.30pm at Hood Lane Recreation Ground, Great Sankey.

Rovers Head of Rugby Mal Holt said, “We have picked up our form over the past couple of weeks with two good away victories and that helps us to go into the game with Crosfields with more confidence in our play. We know that this will be a stiffer test but it is one that we are looking forward to. We were comprehensively outplayed by them at our place at the end of April and we will be keen to try and right a few wrongs from that performance and give a better account of ourselves this week. We have got a few lads back available over the past week so we go into the game with a strong squad at our disposal. I am certain that Matt Wilson will have his lads ready for the game so it promises to be an absolute cracker and one that will hopefully attract a large crowd, especially with it being an evening fixture.”

Meanwhile, Woolston Rovers made it back-to-back wins with a 16-24 victory at Wigan St Judes in a closely contested National Conference League Division Two encounter at Parsons Meadow, Wigan on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers opened the scoring in the 15th minute when second-row Dan Fearnley made a fine break and after a repeat set the ball reached Fearnley once again and he scored on the right. Stand off Theo Holt converted and then eight minutes later hooker Adam Files (pictured) made a forty-metre break before finding Holt in support so score on the right.

St Judes replied on the half-hour when a mistake by Rovers allowed centre Calum Palmer to pick up a loose ball and go through a gap to score in the corner. Loose forward Danny Cassidy converted from the touchline and then four minutes before the break a kick on the last tackle from stand-off Josh Yates was collected superbly by Cassidy to score on the left and make the half time score 10-10.

Twelve minutes into the second half St Judes had full-back Dec Parkinson sin-binned for a trip and from the resulting penalty Rovers made the extra man count as centre Olly Parr went over in the left corner but four minutes later St Judes responded when Cassidy broke through some weak tackling to score on the left. He added the conversion to put his side ahead for the first time at 16-14.

Rovers refused to panic and they started to build up some momentum and that paid off when a fine solo run by full-back Morgan Williams saw him score in the right corner to put his side back in front and shortly afterwards St Judes had Yates yellow carded for dissent and with three minutes remaining Rovers made sure of the win when loose forward Ryan Brown found A Files who went over for a try. Holt added the conversion to complete a 24-16 success for the Green & Gold men.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers hooker Adam Files. He was very well supported by prop forwards Harry Files and Ryan Hickman.

After the game, Woolston Rovers Head of Rugby Mal Holt said, “We made the short trip to Wigan and came away with a hard-fought win; we got off to a great start but some lapses in concentration allowed St Judes back into the game and it was in the balance until late on when we thankfully scored two decent tries to move clear and get the victory. We never felt in any real trouble, even when we went behind, but we kept inviting pressure on ourselves which made our life difficult at times. There was some good shape being played which is a result of the great work that Billy Sheen (Assistant Coach) is doing with the lads; they are starting to deliver what he is coaching them which puts us in a good position for the remainder of the season.”

ST JUDES
Dec Parkinson, Lewis Melling, Reece Matthews, Calum Palmer, Barry Rothwell, Josh yates, Jacob Dugdlae, Tom Owen, Jason Holland, Josh Rogerson, Connor Parkinson, Danny Cassidy.
Subs: Callum Silcock, Adam Lavin, Aaron Smith, Will Halliwell.

Tries
Fearnley (15 mins), Holt (23), Parr (52), Williams (72), A Files (77).
Goals
Holt 2 from 5