WOOLSTON Rovers NCL side will be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing home defeat to local rivals Crosfield, when they travel to Rochdale Mayfield in the National Conference League C. Kick off is 2.30pm.
Rovers Head of Coaching Mal Holt said, “We were obviously disappointed following the defeat against Crosfields but we cannot dwell on that; we need to dust ourselves down and get ready for what we know will be a tough test at Mayfield. We had a good win over them at our place but that was two months ago and although it will have little bearing on this game, the boys know that they are capable of beating them so if they can go onto the pitch with that confidence then we will give ourselves a great chance of claiming the spoils. We will ensure that we get a good week’s training in us and be ready to give a good account of ourselves.”
Last saturday Rovers suffered a disappointing 18-28 home defeat as local rivals Crosfields gained revenge for the opening day loss with a deserved win in the National Conference League C at the Limestone Construction Field, Monk Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.
Rovers opened the scoring in the fifth minute; after forcing a goal-line drop out the ball was collected by scrum half Ryan Brown who ran forward creating a gap and found winger Callum Harnett-Smy who rounded the full back to score wide out on the right but Crosfields replied seven minutes later when full back Luke Walker linked into the line to score from close range wide out on the right. Stand off Brad Stanway added the conversion.
Just before the midway point of the half Crosfields ran the ball on the last tackle and scrum half John Whittaker’s inside ball put Walker through a gap to score wide out on the right. Stanway converted but Rovers hit back when a kick to the corner on the last tackle by stand off Theo Holt was collected superbly by winger Karlton Bates and he passed inside to centre Dan Griffiths who scored on the left.
Seven minutes before the break the visitors made pressure on the Rovers line tell when Stanway took the ball and sold a ‘dummy’ and stepped through the gap to score on the left. He converted his own try before rovers had loose forward Harry files sin binned for use of the knee in a tackle as the Soap got to half time with an 18-8 advantage.
Rovers got back into the contest fifteen minutes into the second half when a lovely long ball from centre Kieran Moore found Harnett-Smy out wide and he twisted in the tackle to shrug off his opposite number and squeeze over in the right corner but then ten minutes later Crosfields had hooker Kellen Wood sin binned for a headbutt but the penalty was awarded to his side and from that substitute Elliot Liku powered over on the left from close range.
Despite still being a man down Crosfields looked to have made sure of the win when Whittaker scooted from dummy half to score under the posts. Stanway converted before Rovers scored a later consolation try when a long ball from Brown on the last tackle found Bates in acres of space to score in the left corner. Full back Aaron Barber added the touchline conversion to make the final score 28-18 to Crosfields.
Best for Rovers were scrum half Ryan Brown, winger Callum Harnett-Smy and centre Kieran Moore. Crosfields were best served by scrum half John Whittaker, substitute Elliot Liku and prop forward Tom Millington.
After the game Rovers Head of Coaching Mal Holt said, “That was a very disappointing defeat today with our pride being a little dented with losing at home to our rivals. We played well in patches but credit to Crosfields; they always had that little more in the tank than we did and executed their plays better than we did. As a group we are hurting and need to dig ourselves out of the hole we currently find ourselves in. We will get together at training and go again next week at Rochdale Mayfield.”
ROVERS
Aaron Barber, Callum Harnett-Smy, Dan Griffiths, Kieran Moore, Karlton Bates, Theo Holt, Ryan Brown, Sam Roberts, Adam Files, Ryan Hickman, Dan Fearnley, Cameron Davies, Harry Files.
Subs: Ben Moore, Josh Sudlow, Tom Byrne, Matt Taylor.
Tries
Harnett-Smy (5 mins, 55), Griffiths (23), Bates (77).
Goals
Barber 1
SOAP
Luke Walker, Aaron Holliday, Alex Clutterbuck, Lewis Hall, Dan Reid, Brad Stanway, John Whittaker, Tom Millington, Kellen Wood, Tom Brown, Sam Hickey, Mitch McJay, Ben Mellor.
Subs: Matty Barber, Elliot Liku, Jack Williams, Jordan Williams.
Tries
Walker (12 mins, 17), Stanway (33), Liku (67), Whittaker (72).
Goals
Stanway 4
