WOOLSTON ROVERS 34 MILFORD 6 IMPACT PERFORMANCE NCL – DIVISION TWO

– 6/05/2023

Woolston Rovers returned to winning ways with a very polished display to defeat Milford in the Impact Performance National Conference League Division Two at the Limestone Construction Field, Monk Sports Club.

Rovers got off to the perfect start when winger Tom Byrne opened the scored in the first minute but seven minutes later Milford replied with a try from prop forward Joe Tharme that hooker Jake Payne converted.

On twenty four minutes Rovers were back ahead when loose forward Scott Whiteley found centre Ben Dixon who then exchanged passes with scrum half Dec Leonard as space was created for Leonard to go over. Dixon converted and then just before the half hour mark Milford lost the ball on their own line and Rovers second row Sam Vernon picked up the loose ball to score on the right. Dixon added the conversion.

Eight minutes before the break Rovers moved further clear when prop forward Harry Files powered over for a try. Dixon converted to give his side a 22-6 interval advantage as Milford ended the half temporarily reduced to twelve men when substitute Ryan Pinder was yellow carded for foul play.

Four minutes into the second half Rovers substitute Sean Boyle was sin binned for foul play but that didn’t seem to affect his teammates as they stretched their lead just before he returned to the field when Leonard found substitute Craig Lawton on the last tackle and he brushed off three defenders to score wide out on the left.

Rovers next try came when Boyle went down the short side and found centre Kieran Moore who took three defenders with him over the line to score in the right corner and then three minutes from time a mazy diagonal run from the impressive Leonard saw him score wide out on the left to complete a 34-4 success for Rovers.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers scrum half Dec Leonard. He was very well supported by substitutes Matt Taylor and Sean Boyle.

Rovers

Theo Holt, Kieran Jones, Kieran Moore, Ben Dixon, Karlton Bates, Ryan Brown, Dec Leonard, Harry Files, Adam Files, Ryan Hickman, Sam Vernon, Dan Fearnley, Scott Whiteley.

Subs: Sean Boyle, Blake Turner, Ryan Palin, Sam Wood.

Tries

A Files (3 mins, 14, 58), Brown (9), Fearnley (43), Jones (53), Bates (64), Turner (70), Leonard (79).

Goals

Dixon 3