Woolston Rovers A 30 Newton Storm 26

WOOLSTON Rovers A had a thrilling victory over near neighbours Newton Storm in the North West Mens League Division Two at a muddy Monks Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.

The game was in the balance until the final whistle but it was the extra composure that the Rovers had in the closing stages that enabled them to come out on top and gain a richly deserved first win of the season.

It was the visitors who got out of the blocks quickest and they took the lead in the third minute with a try from winger Craig Smith and they extended their advantage midway through the half with a try from prop forward John Archer.

On the half hour Rovers got themselves on the scoreboard when centre Lloyd Feather made a lovely break and offloaded to winger Sam Jones who sprinted away to score. Scrum half Jason Rutter added the conversion.

Five minutes before the break Woolston second row Mike McNamara and Newton full back James Walker were dismissed following an altercation and the half ended with Storm holding a narrow 8-6 lead.

Rovers went in front for the first time right at the beginning of the second half when substitute Lewis Hoarty raced eighty metres outpacing the chasing defenders to score a great try and six minutes later they went further ahead when Rutter went over for a fine try. He added both conversions to give his side a ten point cushion at 18-8.

Newton hit back shortly afterwards when scrum half Carl Traynor went over for a try that he converted himself and then just after the hour stand off Matt Stafford scored to level the scores and Traynor’s conversion put his side back in front.

It looked as though Newton were going to put the game out of Rovers reach when a kick through forced an error by Woolston and Storm second row Anthony Swift dropped on the loose ball to score.

Traynor goaled to make the score 26-18 but then almost immediately Hoarty went over for his second try which Rutter converted to reduce the deficit once again back to just two points to set up a thrilling finish.

As the game reached the closing stages Rutter managed to go over for the match clinching try which he once again converted to give a jubilant Rovers side a 30-26 victory which will hopefully set them up nicely for the rest of the campaign.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers hooker Scott Whiteley although he was very well supported by Jason Rutter and Lewis Hoarty.

Rovers A: Danny Halliwell, Sam Jones, Lloyd Feather, Tom Keevil, Shane Duffy, Dominic Ball, Jason Rutter, Sam Files, Scott Whiteley, Stephen Dowson, Tom Fagan, Mike McNamara, James Dudley. Subs: Dan Fearnley, Lewis Hoarty, Connor Gerrard, Cain Hillen.