A below par performance from Woolston saw them lose their unbeaten record as they suffered a last gasp defeat at Leigh Central Lions in the North West Counties Division Four on Saturday afternoon.
Rovers opened the scoring after twelve minutes when a short ball from hooker Mike Briggs found prop forward Chris Blackwell who forced his way over from close range. Centre John Welch added the conversion.
Leigh hit back midway through the half when a high kick on the last tackle by stand off Chris Dootson was misjudged by the Woolston defence and winger Daniel Buxton managed to pounce on the loose ball to score an unconverted try wide out on the left, and then five minutes later a penalty goal from scrum half Tony Doyle levelled the scores.
Woolston got their noses back in front a minute before the break when winger Steve Lawley scored in the left corner after good work from loose forward Dave Kelly and scrum half Ian Stephenson that gave them a 10-6 lead.
Seven minutes into the second half a fifty metre break down the right by Lions centre Michael Taylor split the Rovers defence and he found Buxton on his outside to race away and score. Dootson goaled to give his side the lead for the first time.
Rovers regained the lead just after the hour when a scrum on the Leigh ten metre line saw stand off Paul Berry put centre Rob Hayes through a gap to score a try at the side of the posts which Welch converted.
Three minutes later Rovers winger Steve Lawley spun out of an attempted tackle and rounded the cover to score under the posts. Welch’s conversion gave Rovers a ten point advantage.
The Lions refused to lie down and centre Steve Mooney crossed from ten metres out, and then four minutes from time a sixty metre break by loose forward Jimmy Davies punctured a huge hole in the Rovers defence and Mooney was in support to score. Doyle converted the latter to level the scores at 22-22.
The restart from Rovers was adjudged to have gone straight out on the full and the resultant penalty for the Lions put them in great field position which they used to full effect in the final minute when Doyle landed a coolly taken drop goal to give the Lions a 23-22 victory.
Woolston will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they entertain Eccles & Salford Juniors. Kick off is 2.00pm at Bennett Rec.
ROVERS
Dave NEIL, Paul WILSON, John WELCH, Rob HAYES, Steve LAWLEY, Paul BERRY, Ian STEPHENSON, Chris BLACKWELL, Mike BRIGGS, Simon WESTON, Craig SUTTON, Mark WAREING, Dave KELLY.
Subs:Billy MAUNDER, Chris BENNION, Nik ARDREY, James DUDLEY.
HIGGINSHAW EAGLES 10 WOOLSTON ROVERS 12
Woolston dug deep in atrocious conditions to record a narrow victory at Higginshaw on Saturday afternoon in the North West Counties Division Four, a win that keeps them riding high at the top of the table.
The pitch was an absolute quagmire and with the driving wind and rain it made handling very difficult and kept scoring chances to a premium and the only try of the first half came on thirteen minutes when good work by centre John Welch paved the way for strong running prop forward Mike Leicester to power over. Welch added the conversion to give his side a 6-0 lead which is the way it stayed until half time despite Higginshaw having stand off Michael Foggerty sin binned for dissent midway through the half.
The Oldham side come out strong in the second half and seven minutes into it a kick to the corner was fumbled by Rovers and winger Mark Ward reacted quickest to pounce on the loose ball and score. Scrum half Ryan O’Donnell converted to level the scores.
Rovers regained the lead just after the hour when quick hands out wide saw centre Paul Wilson find winger Chris McKean who just managed to squeeze in at the left corner for a try. Welch goaled superbly from the touchline.
The home side hit back almost immediately when a kick through by O’Donnell landed in the Rovers in-goal area and Foggerty was on hand to touchdown. The conversion sailed agonisingly wide and Rovers managed to hold on for a very hard fought 12-10 success.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers loose forward Mark Wareing.
ROVERS
Dave NEIL, Chris McKEAN, John WELCH, Paul WILSON, Steve LAWLEY, Paul BERRY, Ian STEPHENSON, Mike LEICESTER, Billy MAUNDER, Lyndon TAYLOR, Bob McGREGOR, Chris BENNION, Mark WAREING.
Subs:Mike BRIGHT, Gareth EDWARDS, Stephen DOWSON, Gareth CLAFFEY.
WOOLSTON ROVERS 68 LEYLAND WARRIORS 0
Woolston produced a clinical display to completely outclass a very game Leyland Warriors side in the North West Counties Division Four on Saturday afternoon to maintain their 100% record.
Rovers opened the scoring after ten minutes when flying winger Steve Lawley broke clear from the halfway line and rounded the cover to score under the posts. Centre John Welch added the conversion.
Nine minutes later Rovers substitute Nik Ardrey used his power close to line to reach out and score and shortly afterwards stand off Paul Berry stretched out to score from close range. Welch added the goal on both occasions.
The Rovers onslaught continued when loose forward Rob Hayes picked up a loose ball before being hauled down but a quick play the ball saw Berry put hooker Mike Briggs over. Welch again goaled.
Woolston’s next score came just after the half hour mark when scrum half Ian Stephenson and centre Paul Wilson combined on the last tackle to put second row Craig Sutton over for a try and then three minutes before the break a forty metre break by full back Dave Neil paved the way for Ardrey to crash over for his second try. Welch goaled both to give Rovers a commanding 36-0 half time lead.
Rovers started the second half in a similar vein when a short ball from Wilson sent Lawley on a fifty metre run to score and on fifty minutes a kick to the corner saw Lawley hack the ball on and win the race to score his third try of the afternoon.
Quick hands between Berry and substitute Billy Maunder sent Stephenson over. Welch goaled to bring up the half century and then a break down the right by substitute James Dudley created space for Welch to score under the posts and he duly added on the extras.
Four minutes from time the ball was swept out wide for Sutton to score his second in the left corner which Welch converted superbly from the touchline and then right on time a short ball from Stephenson put Berry over under the posts. Welch’s tenth success of the game rounded of a very pleasing 68-0 victory.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers winger Steve Lawley.
ROVERS
Dave NEIL, Chris McKEAN, John WELCH, Paul WILSON, Steve LAWLEY, Paul BERRY, Ian STEPHENSON, Simon WESTON, Mike BRIGGS, Chris BLACKWELL, Craig SUTTON, Chris BENNION, Rob HAYES.
Subs:Gareth CLAFFEY, Billy MAUNDER, Nik ARDREY, James DUDLEY.
WOOLSTON ROVERS 34 BOLTON METS 16
Woolston produced a good performance to make it four straight victories and keep them on top of the North West Counties Division Four with a comfortable win over Bolton Mets on Saturday afternoon.
Rovers opened the scoring in the tenth minute when hooker Mike Briggs pounced on a loose ball and raced forty metres before being held just short. A quick play the ball saw scrum half Billy Maunder put prop forward Chris Blackwell over, but Bolton hit back four minutes later when a good ball out wide by scrum half Anthony Murray found winger Adam Ryan who scored wide on the left. Centre James Harper converted to give his side the lead.
Woolston hit back when a superb break by Maunder split the Bolton defence and he found second row Craig Sutton in support on his inside to score. Centre John Welch added the conversion.
Just after the half hour Bolton narrowed the deficit to two points with a penalty goal from Harper, but then a minute before the break Rovers winger Steve Lawley broke clear and rounded the cover to score. Welch goaled to give the home side a 16-8 half time advantage.
Rovers stretched their lead four minutes into the second half when centre Paul Wilson scored in the left corner, and then fifteen minutes later the ball was swept out wide for Wilson to go over once again in the left corner.
Just after the hour the impressive Maunder put Welch over after a fine break from stand off Paul Berry. Welch added the conversion to his own try to put Rovers in total control at 30-8
Bolton refused to give up and nine minutes from time Ryan went over for his second try, but almost immediately Lawley brushed off an attempted tackle to cross for his second touchdown of the afternoon.
Three minutes from time Bolton hooker Paul Wilcox scored a consolation try to make the final score 34-16 to the Rovers.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers stand off Paul Berry.
Woolston Rovers Team:
Dave NEIL, Chris McKEAN, John WELCH, Paul WILSON, Steve LAWLEY, Paul BERRY, Billy MAUNDER, Simon WESTON, Mike BRIGGS, Chris BLACKWELL, Craig SUTTON, James DUDLEY, Mark WAREING.
A strong first half performance from Woolston saw them record a convincing victory over West Bank Bears on Saturday afternoon to make it three straight wins and keep them at the top of the North West Counties Division Four.
Rovers opened the scoring in the first minute when they capitalised on a West Bank knock on from the kick off and good pressure saw the ball get swept out wide to centre Ian Stephenson who put winger Steve Lawley over wide on the left. Prop forward John Welch added the conversion.
Woolston increased their lead fifteen minutes later when good play by hooker Mike Briggs saw him draw the cover towards him before off loading to scrum half Billy Maunder who scored at the left of the posts, Welch added on the extras, but four minutes later West Bank hit back when winger Mickey Kelly capitalised on a Rovers handling error to score an unconverted try in the left corner.
Rovers responded when Briggs went on his own from acting half back to score under the posts and give Welch a simple conversion and then on the half hour West Bank had Kelly dismissed for dissent and abuse to the referee.
Seven minutes before the break Briggs went over for his second try and Welch’s goal gave the home side a commanding 24-4 half time advantage.
West Bank started the second half well and quick passing stretched the Rovers defence and centre Stephen Curphey squeezed in at the left corner to give his side hope, but a combination of strong defence and several handling errors kept scoring chances down to a minimum.
In the closing stages, West Bank scrum half Mark French and Woolston’s stand off Paul Berry were sin binned for fighting, and a minute from time West Bank had substitute Steve Arrowsmith yellow carded for a high tackle to reduce them to ten men and Woolston made the extra two man advantage pay right on the final whistle when Stephenson put Lawley over under the posts. Welch goaled to complete a 30-8 success.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers loose forward Dave Kelly.
Woolston Rovers team:
Steve ARNOLD, Steve LAWLEY, Paul WILSON, Ian STEPHENSON, Chris McKEAN, Paul BERRY, Billy MAUNDER, John WELCH, Mike BRIGGS, Simon WESTON, Chris BENNION, James DUDLEY, Dave KELLY.
Subs: Barry HUTCHINSON, Dave NEIL, Nik ARDREY, Mike BRIGHT.
Spring View 20-34 Woolston Rovers
A superb all-round team performance from Woolston saw them bounce back from an early ten point deficit to complete a comprehensive victory at Spring View in the North West Counties Division Four on Saturday afternoon.
Spring View opened the scoring after twelve minutes when hooker Steve Sutcliffe dummied his way over for an unconverted try, and five minutes later he repeated the feat to score under the posts. Stand off Owen Lloyd converted.
Spring View then had second row Dave Benson sin binned for a high tackle and from the resulting penalty Rovers full back Steve Arnold was held just short but a quick play the ball saw hooker Mike Briggs dive over from acting half back. Centre John Welch added the conversion.
Just after the half hour Rovers scrum half Billy Maunder chipped ahead on the last tackle, the home full back fumbled the ball and Maunder reacted quickest to touchdown just before the ball went dead in goal, and then a minute from half time Briggs scooted from dummy half and rounded three defenders to score. Welch converted both tries to give Rovers an 18-10 interval lead.
The home side hit back fourteen minutes into the second half when full back Liam Davies finished off a fine move with a try that Lloyd goal to narrow the gap to two points, but Rovers responded in fine style when a great short ball from centre Ian Stephenson put second row Craig Sutton through a gap and he went forty metres to score under the posts and give Welch the simplest of conversions, and then two minutes later Stephenson intercepted on his own ten metre line and raced seventy metres before kicking the ball inside for substitute Barry Hutchinson to collect and score. Welch again added the extras.
Spring View gained a consolation try two minutes from time when prop forward Daryl Ridyard scored, but it was the Rovers who had the final say when slick passing saw Maunder and substitute Nik Ardrey combine to put winger Chris McKean over in the right corner to complete a very impressive 34-20 win.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers centre John Welch.
Woolston Rovers team:
Steve ARNOLD, Chris McKEAN, John WELCH, Ian STEPHENSON, Adam WILLIAMS, Paul BERRY, Billy MAUNDER, Andy ADDISON, Mike BRIGGS, Simon WESTON, Chris BENNION, Craig SUTTON, Rob HAYES.
Subs: Barry HUTCHINSON, James DUDLEY, Nik ARDREY, Chris BLACKWELL.
Woolston Rovers 32-6 Higginshaw
Woolston ran out victors in their opening match of the season in NWC Division 4. Higginshaw opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a penalty in front of the posts. Woolston stuck straight back with a break from Arnold and Hayes twisting out of the tackle to plant the ball at the side of the post. Berry converted to put Woolston in the lead 6-2. Strong running from Arnold, Leicester and Ardrey gave Woolston good field position and Woolston increased their lead. Williams dropped on a loose ball and Briggs released the ball to Leicester who reached over to score a try, converted by Berry to take Woolston into a 12-2 lead at half time. Just two minutes into the second half and Woolston went further in front. Briggs made a break and fast hands saw the ball passed out to the right to Arnold who dived over for an unconverted try. Five minutes later and Bright swept up a loose ball and strode into the Higginshaw 20m zone. Leicester was held up short of the line and Briggs dodged under the defence to score. Berry converted to make the score 22-2. Higginshaw struck back straight away with a try at the other end but Woolston cancelled out their try with a second for Arnold who touched down beside the posts. Berry converted. Woolston pressured the Higginshaw line and were awarded a penalty for offside. While the visitors argued about the decision Maunder dived over the line to bring the final score to 32-6.
Woolston Rovers team: Ste Arnold, Lynden Dudley, John Welch, Andy Simpson, Adam Williams, Paul Berry, Billy Maunder, Mike Leicester, Mike Briggs, Simon Weston, James Dudley, Chris Bennion, Rob Hayes, Barry Hutchinson, Mike Bright, Dave Neil, Nik Ardrey.
