Woolston Rovers 58 Gateshead Storm 12

WOOLSTON Rovers bounced back to winning ways in convincing fashion with an emphatic victory over Gateshead Storm in the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three on Saturday afternoon at Monks Sports Club.

Rovers had lost their previous two games to slip down to sixth place in the league table but they turned on the style against a brave Storm side who gave their all for the full eighty minutes but the extra class and experience in the Rovers’ side shone through.

The scoring was opened in the second minute when the ball was swept along the line from a scrum and it reached winger Christian Taylor who raced over from ten metres out to score in the left corner and then five minutes later a great ball from second row Sean Conway found stand-off Billy Maunder who sprinted thirty metres to score at the left of the posts.

Centre Lewis Hoarty added the conversion.

Almost immediately a high kick from Maunder was fumbled by the Storm defence and hooker Ryan Brown was first to react to pick up the loose ball and score at the right of the posts.

Hoarty converted but then Gateshead got on the scoreboard when stand-off Richard Moody dummied his way through to score an unconverted try.

Just before the half hour mark a fine ball from Rovers’ second row Anthony Clayton found centre Paul Berry who scored in the left corner and then two minutes later a fine ball from Conway set Brown away and he found prop forward Matt Clarke on his outside to score at the left of the posts.

Hoarty added the conversion.

The Rovers’ onslaught continued when a Berry break was carried on by Taylor and after a couple of quick play the ball’s the ball reached Clarke who scored at the left of the posts.

Hoarty converted and then a minute before the break a kick by Maunder was superbly caught by Taylor and he scored in the left corner to make the half time score 36-4 in Rovers’ favour.

Four minutes after the break Berry found Taylor who stretched out to complete a fine hat-trick in the left corner.

Hoarty converted from the touchline but then just before the hour a short ball from Storm centre Luke Benham found sixteen year old winger Lewis Burbidge who scored in the right corner.

Straight from the restart the Storm lost the ball and Rovers’ loose-forward Jake Upton was first to react to pick up the loose ball and race twenty metres to score at the left of the posts.

Hoarty converted but again Gateshead came back and second row Greg Newlands scored in the left corner.

Rovers brought up the half century when a short ball from Maunder put prop forward Mark Robinson who scored at the left of the posts.

Hoarty converted and the Storm hooker Scott Woods was red carded for foul and abusive language to the referee and Rovers made the extra man count three minutes from time when Hoarty raced fifty metres down the right wing to score wide out and complete a convincing 58-12 victory.

Man of the match was awarded to Rovers’ hooker Ryan Brown.

He was very well supported by prop forward Matt Clarke, second row Sean Conway and full-back Glyn Roberts.

After the game Rovers’ head coach John Fieldhouse said: “That was a much better performance from us, especially in the first half, and it was nice to get back to winning ways.

“Our attack was very good and we scored several high quality tries.

“We now need to build on this and improve even further as we have some tough games coming up over the next few weeks.

“We have no game next weekend but that will give us the chance to work on some key areas in training to ensure we are at our best for our next game away to unbeaten league leaders Hunslet Club Parkside in two weeks.

“It will be another good test for us to see what level we are at.”

Rovers: Glyn Roberts, Jack Holt, Lewis Hoarty, Paul Berry, Christian Taylor, Billy Maunder, Harry Files, Mark Robinson, Ryan Brown, Matt Clarke, Sean Conway, Anthony Clayton, Jake Upton.

Subs: Shane Duffy, Sam Wood, Dan Fearnley, Bobby McGregor.