Underbank Rangers 19 Woolston Rovers 6

WOOLSTON Rovers suffered a defeat at the hands of unbeaten Underbank Rangers in a very hard-fought Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three fixture in Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers put in a very good display, especially in defence, and were very unfortunate not to come away with anything from the game and the final scoreline did a great disservice to the gallant way that Woolston performed throughout.

Underbank opened the scoring after nine minutes when hooker Andy Boothroyd made a fine break down the middle that split the Rovers defence and he found stand off Neil Barrett in support to go over under the posts.

Barrett converted his own try but then Rovers continual pressure on the Underbank line was eventually rewarded four minutes before the break when good work close to the line saw scrum half Danny O’Brien dummy his way over from close range.

He goaled himself to level the scores 6-6 at half time.

The second half saw Rovers playing down the large slope but some excellent defensive work from the home side kept the visitors penned in their own half which limited their scoring opportunities and it was Underbank who went back in front just before the hour.

Boothroyd spotted a gap in the Rovers’ line and went on his own from dummy half and race 30 metres to score under the posts. Barrett added the conversion.

Rovers never gave in as they tried to get back on level terms but three minutes from time a drop goal from Barrett put Underbank seven points ahead and then to rub salt into the Woolston wounds Rangers centre Michael Lang raced 40 metres in the final minute to score under the posts.

Barrett converted to give the final scoreline a much more lob sided look than it should have done as Underbank registered a 19-6 victory.

Best for Rovers were full back James Rosson, prop forward Chris Mellor and substitute Scott Whiteley.

After the game Rovers head coach Lee Westwood said: “We are bitterly disappointed to not take anything from the game; our efforts certainly warranted at least a share of the spoils but it wasn’t to be and Underbank deserve credit for the way they shut us out in the second half.

“We can take plenty of positives from the game, which was our best display so far, and we now have two weeks before we play our next game which is away at Peterlee.

“We will be working very hard in training over the next couple of weeks to correct areas that need improving.

“The light nights will now allow us to train twice a week on grass which is something we have not been able to manage so far and that will make a huge difference to us.”

Rovers: James Rosson; Lewis Stockton, Chris Brown, Ryan Price-Jones, Christian Taylor; Will Chadwick, Danny O’Brien; Andy Addison, Wez Lawton, Chris Mellor, Danny Brown, Sean Conway, Danny Griffiths. Subs: Scott Whiteley, Josh Woods, John Welch, Mark Robinson