WOOLSTON ROVERS 18 WATERHEAD WARRIORS 24 IMPACT PERFORMANCE NCL – DIVISION TWO

– 20/05/2023

Woolston Rovers lost their 100% home record with a narrow defeat to Waterhead Warriors in a very high-quality Impact Performance National Conference League Division Two encounter at the Limestone Construction Field, Monk Sports Club.

As you would expect from a top of the table clash, the opening exchanges were very even with both sides defences on top and it wasn’t until the twenty fifth minute that the first score arrived as waterhead hooker James Perks spotted a gap from dummy half and shot through it to score on the right. Second row Ciaran Dean converted and then five minutes later the referee controversially awarded a penalty try to the Warriors as he adjudged that winger Mason Young was impeded as he was about to collect the ball to score. Dean added the conversion.

Right on the stroke of half time Rovers got themselves back into the game when a great offload from second row Scott Whiteley found hooker Adam Files who brushed off four defenders to score at the left of the posts. Full back Ben Dixon converted to make the interval score 12-6 to the visitors.

Thirteen minutes into the second half pressure on the Waterhead line paid off for rovers as scrum half Dec Leonard stepped round the defence to score on the left. Dixon converted to level matters but then just after the hour mark slick handling by Waterhead created an overlap and centre Callum Murphy scored wide out on the left. Dean added the conversion.

Rovers again came bouncing back and when they were awarded a penalty close to the Warriors line the ball reached loose forward Harry Files who broke out of an attempted tackle to score at the side of the posts. Dixon converted to bring the scores level once again but then almost immediately Waterhead loose forward Danny Bridge bounced off a Rovers defender and scored under the posts. Dean added the conversion to give his side a 24-18 win in a fantastic advert for the NCL.

Best for Rovers were second row Scott Whiteley, substitute Matt Taylor and winger Alex Pendlebury.

Rovers

Ben Dixon, Alex Pendlebury, Kieran Moore, Dan Fearnley, Karlton Bates, Ryan Brown, Dec Leonard, Ryan Palin, Adam Files, Ryan Hickman, Craig Lawton, Scott Whiteley, Harry Files.

Subs: Wil Roberts, Sam Wood, Joe Craven, Matt Taylor.

Tries

Byrne (1 min), Leonard (24), Vernon (29), H Files (32), Lawton (55), More (68), Leonard (77).

Goals

Dixon 3

GOLBORNE PARKSIDE 42 WOOLSTON ROVERS ‘A’ 16

NWML DIVISION TWO – 20/05/2023

Woolston Rovers ‘A’ put in a much-improved performance from the display last week before succumbing to defeat at high-flying Golborne Parkside in the NWML Division Two.

The first half was keenly contested for the most part but the home side had that little extra bit of composure at crucial times and built up a 24-10 half time lead. Rovers scored tries through prop forward Tom Fagan and scrum half Chris Forster with Forster adding one conversion.

The second half was a similar tale with Rovers having plenty of opportunities but some strong defence from Golborne kept them at bay for the large part and it was the Parksiders who were able to run out 42-16 victors. The Rovers second half try was scored by second row Patryk Mazur with Forster adding the extras.

Best for Rovers were second row Patryk Mazur, scrum half Chris Forster and second row Craig Woolvine.

ROVERS ‘A’

Louis Griffiths, Andy Ward, Simon Bishop, Kyle Cherrett, Joe Oakes, Dom Ball, Chris Forster, Ben Crewe, Jack Hancock, Tom Fagan, Craig Woolvine, Patryk Mazur, Jay-Jay Catterall.

Subs: Tom Atherton, Tom Harvey, Lewis Dawson, Rob Campbell.