WOOLSTON ROVERS 52 EAST LEEDS 16 (IMPACT PERFORMANCE NCL – DIVISION TWO – 18/03/2023)

Woolston Rovers returned to action after an enforced week off due to the weather and turned in a very good display to defeat a resolute East Leeds side in the Impact Performance National Conference League Division Two at the Limestone Construction Field, Monk Sports Club.

Rovers got off to the perfect start and took the lead in the opening minute with a try from centre Ben Dixon. Scrum half Dec Leonard converted and then seven minutes later full back Theo Holt crossed for a try. Leonard added the conversion.

East Leeds got off the mark just before the midway point of the half when loose forward Arisan Cowie scored. Stand off Luke Littlewood converted but that seemed to kick Rovers into gear as they soon added tries from second row Scott Whiteley and winger Tom Byrne.

Just after the half hour Rovers loose forward Harry Files added his name to the scoresheet. Leonard converted to give the Green & Gold men a commanding 26-6 interval advantage although they did have centre Kieran Moore sent off a minute before the break for punching.

The one man disadvantage didn’t seem to matter three minutes into the second half as Whiteley went over for his second try. Leonard converted but then East Leeds pulled a try back when stand off Adam Gibbons went over. Littlewood added the conversion.

As the game approached the hour mark Rovers ensured there would be no way back for East Leeds when Whiteley completed a fine hat trick. Leonard converted and that was followed by further tries from prop forward Ryan Palin and a second for Byrne.

Rovers brought up the half century when substitute Sam Wood scored a try that Dixon added on the goal points to but then two minutes from time Rovers were reduced to eleven men when Wood was sin binned for a late tackle and that allowed East Leeds to score a consolation try when winger Shane Plunkett crossed the whitewash to make the final score 52-16 to Rovers.

Rovers

Theo Holt, Tom Byrne, Kieran Moore, Ben Dixon, Kieran Jones, Aaron Barber, Dec Leonard, Ryan Palin, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Dan Fearnley, Scott Whiteley, Harry Files.

Subs: Sean Boyle, Sam Wood, Craig Lawton, Matt Taylor.

Tries

Dixon (1 min), Holt (8), Whiteley (23, 43, 59), Byrne (29, 69), Files (32), Palin (63), Wood (74). Goals

5

1

WALNEY CENTRAL 28 WOOLSTON ROVERS ‘A’ 16 (NWML DIVISION TWO – 18/03/2023)

WALNEY CENTRAL 28 WOOLSTON ROVERS ‘A’ 16 (NWML DIVISION TWO – 18/03/2023)

Woolston Rovers ‘A’ put in a brave display as they went down to defeat at Walney Central in the NWML Division Two.

Walney took control in the first half with tries from Jake Deveraux and Declan Gavin, both goaled by Jordan Staffieri and they moved further clear with a Liam Finch try, again converted by Staffieri but Rovers managed to get on the scoreboard when second row Sam Vernon scored a try and stand off Jay-Jay Catterall added the conversion to give the Cents an 18-6 half time advantage.

Rovers started the second half the brighter and narrowed the gap with a try from loose forward Jack Hancock but Walney they put the game beyond Rovers with a second try for Gavin, that Dave Nicholson converted and then Nicholson added a further try.

The visitors refused to lie down though and had the final say with a try from centre Alex Pendlebury that Catterall converted to make the final score 28-16 to the Cents.

Best for Rovers were full back James Tarpey, scrum half Dom Ball and prop forward Andy Addison.

ROVERS ‘A’

James Tarpey, Louis Griffiths, Alex Pendlebury, Liam Lawton, Simon Bishop, Jay-Jay Catterall, Dom Ball, Andy Addison, Jack Hancock, Tom Fagan, Sam Vernon, Craig Woolvine, Dave Jones.

Subs: Jack Nolan, Tom Atherton, Rudi Stewart, Tom Harvey.

WOOLSTON ROVERS 52 EAST LEEDS 16 (IMPACT PERFORMANCE NCL – DIVISION TWO – 18/03/2023)

DEWSBURY CELTIC 6 WOOLSTON ROVERS 18 (IMPACT PERFORMANCE NCL DIVISION TWO – 25/03/2023)

Woolston Rovers produced an excellent performance to claim a thoroughly deserved victory at Dewsbury Celtic in a very tough Impact Performance National Conference League Division Two game at Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury on Saturday afternoon and maintain their 100% start to the season.

A very cagey opening saw both defences on top but just before the midway point of the first half Rovers managed to break the deadlock when scrum half Ben Dixon scored wide out and eleven minutes later the visitors stretched their lead when centre Kieran Moore went over for a try.

Six minutes before the break Rovers pressure told once again when winger Kieran Jones scored in the left corner to give his side a 12-0 half time advantage.

The second half was always going to be a ‘backs to the wall’ struggle with Celtic coming down a huge hill and eight minutes into it the hosts were back in the game when centre Nathan Waring scored. Stand off Harry Copley converted to narrow the Rovers lead to just six points.

Six minutes later both sides were temporarily reduced to twelve men when Celtic scrum half Dom Senior was sin binned for a late hit on the kicker while Rovers prop forward Ryan Hickman was yellow carded for running in and not so long afterwards Rovers had hooker Ryan Brown sin binned for dissent and on the hour Celtic loose forward Jack Kelly was also given a ten minute ‘rest’ for a dangerous tackle leaving both sides with eleven men.

As the game became a little scrappy it was Rovers who then produced the game breaking score as Moore went over for his second try. Stand off Dec Leonard converted for what proved to be the final points of the game and ensured Rovers would claim a fantastic 18-6 win to continue their excellent start to the campaign.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers were hooker Ryan Brown. He was very well supported by prop forward Ryan Hickman and loose forward Harry Files.

Rovers

Theo Holt, Tom Byrne, Kieran Moore, Dan Fearnley, Kieran Jones, Dec Leonard, Ben Dixon, Ryan Palin, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Sam Vernon, Scott Whiteley, Harry Files.

Subs: Sam Roberts, Sam Wood, Matt Taylor, Sean Boyle.

Tries

Dixon (18 mins), Moore (29, 66), Jones (34).

Goals

Leonard 1

WOOLSTON ROVERS ‘A’ 18 ROCHDALE MAYFIELD ‘A’ 32 (NWML DIVISION TWO – 25/03/2023)

Woolston Rovers ‘A’ were defeated by Rochdale Mayfield ‘A’ in a bruising NWML Division Two fixture at the Limestone Construction Field, Monk Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.

Mayfield opened the scoring after six minutes with a try from prop forward Reece Hamlett. Scrum half Billy Pirouzan converted but four minutes later Rovers replied when centre Dan Griffiths scored. Scrum half Chris Forster added the conversion.

Midway through the half Mayfield went back ahead with a try from winger Rob Kershaw but Rovers levelled once again when full back James Tarpey went over for a try wide out.

Rovers took the lead for the first time when scrum half Chris Forster scored but then right on the stroke of half time Mayfield responded with a try from winger Paul Hancock to make the interval score 14-14.

Two minutes into the second half Hamlett, the former Warrington Wolves Academy winger, went over for his second try. B Pirouzan converted and then centre Joseph Schofield added a further try for the visitors. B Pirouzan added the conversion.

Mayfield made sure of the win when stand off Paul Hancock scored. B Pirouzan converted before Rovers claimed a consolation try three minutes from time through centre Alex Pendlebury to make the final score 32-18 to Mayfield.

Best for Rovers were prop forward Andy Addison, winger Louis Griffiths and stand off Jay-Jay Catterall.

ROVERS ‘A’

James Tarpey, Louis Griffiths, Alex Pendlebury, Dan Griffiths, Andy Ward, Jay-Jay Catterall, Chris Forster, Wez Lawton, Jack Hancock, Andy Addison, Craig Woolvine, Simon Bishop, Dave Jones.

Subs: Tom Gaskell, Dom Ball, Tom Fagan, Ben Crewe.

Home Fixtures

JUNIOR SECTION FIXTURES

JUNIOR SECTION FIXTURES

TOMORROW SUNDAY 2ND APRIL 2023

TOMORROW SUNDAY 2ND APRIL 2023

(pitch allocation subject to change depending on the weather)

Under 7s - Woolston Rovers Greens v Leigh Miners Rangers

Kick Off 10.30am, Hillock Lane Pitch D

Under 8s - Woolston Rovers v Orrell St James

Kick Off 11.45am, Hillock Lane Pitch D

Away Fixtures

Under 9s - Clock Face Miners v Woolston Rovers

Under 10s - Accrington Wildcats v Woolston Rovers Greens

Under 10s - Orrell St James v Woolston Rovers Golds

Under 11s - Shevington Sharks Hammerheads v Woolston Rovers

Under 12s - Westhoughton Lions v Woolston Rovers Greens

Under 12s - Saddleworth Rangers Rhinos v Woolston Rovers Golds

Under 14s - Latchford Giants v Woolston Rovers Golds

Under 15s - Wigan St Patricks v Woolston Rovers Golds

Under 16s - Halton Farnworth Hornets v Blackbrook/Woolston Rovers

No Fixture

Under 13s - Woolston Rovers

Under 14s - Woolston Rovers Greens

Under 15s - Woolston Rovers Greens