Leigh East 16 Woolston Rovers 26

WOOLSTON Rovers continued their preparations for the new season with an excellent 26-16 victory at Leigh East in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon.

East play in the division above Rovers but that didn’t seem to bother the Rovers’ side as they built up a commanding first-half lead.

Despite a spirited comeback from East they were unable to catch a very enthusiastic Rovers team.

Rovers opened the scoring in the fourth minute when scrum half Ryan Cosgrove put centre Lewis Hoarty over with three players on his back and then four minutes later a mistake by Leigh East in their own in-goal area saw second row Sean Conway pounce on the loose ball to score.

Full back Danny Garcia O’Brien converted to make the score 10-0.

Soon afterwards Rovers were over again when substitute Danny Brown offloaded superbly to stand off Billy Maunder who stretched over to score and just after the midway point Cosgrove intercepted a Leigh East pass and sent winger James Rosson on a forty-metre run before getting tackled and from the quick play the ball centre Matt Robinson put second row Anthony Clayton over.

Hoarty converted to put Rovers in command at 20-0.

Four minutes before the break the home side got on the scoreboard with an unconverted try.

Nine minutes into the second half East turned the pressure into points with a converted try and then just after the hour mark they went over again for another try which was converted to narrow the gap to just four points but then right on time a kick down field by Cosgrove was collected by Hoarty and he found Conway who sent Rosson away to score in the right corner.

Hoarty converted from the touchline to complete a fine victory.

Man of the match was awarded to Rovers’ centre Lewis Hoarty.

He was well supported by Anthony Clayton, Ryan Brown and Billy Maunder.

Rovers continue their pre-season fixtures on Saturday when they entertain NCL Premier Division side Wigan St Patricks.

Kick off is 2.30pm at Monks Sports Club, Hillock Lane, Woolston.

Rovers: Danny Garcia O’Brien, James Rosson, Matt Robinson, Lewis Hoarty, Christian Taylor, Billy Maunder, Ryan Cosgrove, Jack Sherratt, Ryan Brown, Bobby McGregor, Sean Conway, Anthony Clayton, Chris Mellor. Subs: Shane Duffy, Danny Brown, Mark Robinson, Mike Rosson, Phil Stevens.

Leigh East A 56 Woolston Rovers A 18

ROVERS A had their first run out of the season and put up a very spirited display against a fine Leigh East A side before going down to defeat.

The Rovers side had a blend of youth and experience with five members of the under 18s taking their place in the side and they can be proud of the way they performed against the big Leigh East outfit.

East took an early 12-0 lead before Rovers registered their first try when centre Danny Brown scored. Scrum half Jason Rutter added the conversion and then after Leigh East scored another converted try Rovers’ young winger Olly Hands crossed for a fine try which Rutter converted.

The home side added two further tries and a conversion before the break to give them a 28-12 interval lead and then in the second half they pulled clear with four converted tries before Rovers grabbed a consolation try through Brown that Rutter converted.

Best for Rovers A were Mike Ward, Max Ainsworth, Danny Brown and Phil Stevens.

Rovers A: Danny Halliwell, Olly Hands, Olly Parr, Danny Brown, Alistair Worrall, Ian Ward, Jason Rutter, Phil Stevens, Peter Leonard, Shaun Gartland, Tom Fagan, Nathan Evans, Mike Ward. Subs: ax Ainsworth, Daniel Markham, Richard Potts.