Woolston Rovers ‘A’ belatedly got their NWML Division Three 2018 campaign up and running with a very hard fought local ‘derby’ victory over Crosfields ‘A’ at the Sandore Construction Field, Monks Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.
Rovers opened the scoring just after the midway point of the half when Sean Millington managed to spot a gap in the Crosfields defence and score in the right corner. Full back Liam Sullivan converted from the touchline but then on the half hour the Soap responded when hooker Danny Lee scored in the right corner.
The Green & Gold regained the initiative seven minutes before the break when scrum half Billy Maunder dummied his way through the Crosfields line to score at the right of the posts. Sullivan converted to make the half time score 12-4 in Rovers favour.
Rovers moved further clear ten minutes into the second half when a lovely pass from stand off Olly Hands sent second row Mike Helme away to score a fine debut try. Sullivan again converted to stretch the lead to fourteen points before the visitors staged a comeback with tries from substitute Alex Charnock and a second from Lee to narrow the gap to six points with seven minutes remaining.
Two minutes from time Rovers ensured that the victory was theirs when Sullivan slotted over a penalty to complete a hard earned but deserved 20-12 win.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers loose forward Tom Woodward. He was very well supported by prop forward Matt Clarke, scrum half Billy Maunder and second row Mike Helme.
After the game Rovers ‘A’ coach Andy Penny said, “I am absolutely thrilled to start the season off with a win against a good side that play the game in the same fashion that we do. It was a real arm wrestle in difficult conditions but I thought the way that the boys played was superb and to get the victory will hopefully set us up nicely for the games coming up. Our defence was really solid and kept them at bay for long periods and when we had the chance to attack we looked very dangerous and scored some fine tries. Four of the side are still playing in our Under 18s side and they really do not look out of place in the Open Age.”
ROVERS ‘A’
Liam Sullivan, Sean Millington, Callum Moore, Nathan Evans, Conor Clarke, Olly Hands, Billy Maunder, Matt Clarke, Kieran Moore, Owen Hazlehurst, Niall Toher, Mike Helme, Tom Woodward.
Subs: Ben Moore, Richard Potts, Sam Files, Max Ainsworth.
SOAP ‘A’
Alex Clutterbuck, Dave Newman, Nathan Hamilton, Tayler Boyne, Conor Harris, Sam Hickey, Jack Williams, Elliot Bridge, Danny lee, Troy Holcroft, Jordan Thomason, Ash Catterall, Liam James.
Subs: Jordan Chiltern, Alex Charnock, Sam Roylance, Ben Kenwright.
