Oldham St Annes 42 Woolston Rovers 38

AN end-to-end encounter finished in heartbreaking fashion for Rovers on Saturday.

After clawing back a 12-point deficit to lead with two minutes left, the visitors looked like claiming victory but St Annes crossed twice in the final minute to snatch it away.

Callum Cashin and Joe Hartley gave the hosts the perfect start before Connor Muir got Rovers on the scoreboard by finishing Ryan Brown’s pass.

Oldham’s Matt Bottom and Rovers’ Will Chadwick then swapped tries before St Annes scored their second interception try of the game, this time through Craig Basnett.

Aaron Barber put substitute Matt Davy over on the left for Rovers, but Callum Fletcher’s score gave the hosts a 30-18 lead at the break.

Then came the Rovers fightback, which started with Davy forcing his way over for his second before St Annes added a penalty goal.

Harry Files crossed on the left to put Rovers back in it and when Glyn Roberts landed a penalty, the scores were level at 32-32.

Lewis Hoarty then gave them the lead for the first time by crossing under the posts, but Powell’s try levelled the scores once more before John Deakin scored with the game’s final play to break Rovers’ hearts.

Woolston: Glyn Roberts; Chris Twigg, Lewis Thorpe, Lewis Hoarty, Will Chadwick; Aaron Barber, Connor Muir; Dan Fearnley, Ryan Brown, Danny Griffiths, Niall Toher, Sean Conway, Harry Files. Subs: Dani Garcia O’Brien, Justin Becker, Matt Davy, Sam Bennett.

Woolston Rovers A 58 Little Hulton Reds 16

A SUPERB display saw Woolston Rovers A book their place in the NWML Shield semi finals as they put Little Hulton Reds to the sword.

The game was effectively won in the first half as Rovers went over six times before the break, with Liam Sullivan and Billy Maunder scoring twice each to go with other scores from Sam Files and Callum Moore.

Maunder completed his hat-trick after the break, with Callum Hinton and Kieran Moore also crossing as Rovers passed the half-century mark.

Sullivan also kicked seven conversions to bring his personal tally to 22 points.

Joint-coach Andy Penny says he and fellow coach Steve Moore were delighted with the way their side continued to apply pressure in the second half against an in-form Little Hulton side.

“The game was over as a contest by half time and we continued in the same vein after the break,” he said.

“The heat was a major factor and we coped with that better than Little Hulton although you could not fault the effort that they put in.

“The confidence that the boys are playing with is great to see and it is showing in their performances.”

Rovers A face a ‘derby’ match this weekend as they welcome Rylands Sharks A to Monks Sports Club, kick off 2.30pm.

Woolston A: Liam Sullivan; Jay Ryder, Steve Caley, Callum Moore, Josh Bray; Olly Hands, Billy Maunder; Richard Potts, Adam Files, Tom Woodward, Olly Parr, Mike Ward, Kieran Moore. Subs: Callum Hinton, Owen Hazlehurst, Mark Haslam, Sam Files.