Leigh Miners Rangers 25

Woolston Rovers 14

WOOLSTON Rovers entertain basement side East Leeds on Saturday and will be wanting to make the most of the opportunity to pick up winning points.

Rovers, fifth from bottom, are only two wins away from the top six in the National Conference League Premier Division with nine games to go in the campaign.

They will go into the weekend's battle having taken some positives from the defeat at high flying Leigh Miners on Saturday.

Although Rovers were 20-2 behind before they scored their first try, they had dominated long periods of the game without coming up with any points.

Rovers opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a penalty goal from winger Mark Roughneen and it looked as though they had stretched the lead soon after when Jon Cole looked to have scored but the referee ruled that he had knocked the ball on over the line.

Miners levelled on 26 minutes with a penalty and then against the run of play they scored two tries in quick succession to take a flattering 10-2 half-time lead.

Miners increased their lead with 55th and 58th minute tries. Rovers full back Kris Buckley was sin-binned for disputing the decision to award the latter and it was while they were down to 12 men that Rovers hit back.

Cole out jumped his opposite number to collect a high kick and score. Roughneen added the conversion.

A drop goal put the home side 21-8 ahead before Rovers scored a consolation try when Australian substitute Jayson Douglas created a gap for prop forward Matt Patterson to go through. Roughneen tagged on the goal points.

Miners had the final say with a try on the stroke of full time.

Man of the match for Rovers was hooker Phil Dermott. He was well supported by Buckley, Steve Warburton and Matt Patterson.

Rovers: Kris Buckley; Paul Berry, Steve Warburton, Jon Cole, Mark Roughneen; Darren Parker, Liam McCarthy; Mark Shephard, Phil Dermott, Matt Patterson, Lee Rushton, Andy Addison, Shane Williams. Subs: Glyn Taylor, Jayson Douglas, Shaun Geritas, Glenn Horrabin.

Saturday's game against East Leeds will kick-off at 2.30pm at Bennett's Rec.