Woolston Rovers 66 Wibsey Warriors 10

WOOLSTON Rovers bounced back to winning ways with a comprehensive defeat of Wibsey Warriors in National Conference League Division Three.

Rovers, who gave NCL debuts to under 18s players Matt Dalton and Olly Hands, were full value for a win that keeps them fifth on the ladder.

Head coach John Fieldhouse said: “I thought that the whole team contributed but the way that Harry Files guided us around from dummy half really enabled Billy Maunder and Jake Upton to dominate from half back and that paved the way for a very impressive win.

“We now have a week off before we travel to second-placed Thornhill Trojans in what will be our most important game so far.

“We should have most of our squad back available for then, apart from Matt Clarke and Glyn Roberts so hopefully we can go there with a strong side and get the right result.”

Woolston took the lead in the first minute when a great break by centre Paul Berry split the Wibsey defence and he sent winger Christian Taylor away to score on the left.

Centre Lewis Hoarty converted and then fourteen minutes later a high kick by Rovers’ scrum half Billy Maunder found Taylor in acres of space and he was able to collect and score in the left corner.

Almost straight from the restart Berry made a fifty-metre break down the left and he found Maunder in support to score at the side of the posts.

Hoarty converted and then good work by Maunder, stand-off Jake Upton and Hoarty enabled second row Tom Keevil to go over wide on the right.

Just after the half hour Rovers scored once again when the ball was sent out wide to Keevil who stretched out to score on the right.

Hoarty added the conversion and three minutes before the break Maunder and second row Anthony Clayton combined to find full back James Rosson who twisted in the tackle to score wide out on the left.

Hoarty converted to make the half time score 32-0 in Rovers’ favour.

Six minutes into the second half a kick to the corner by Maunder saw Dalton win the chase to collect superbly and score wide out on the right.

Hoarty converted and then Rovers had a scrum on the Wibsey ten-metre line and from it Maunder went down the blind side to score at the left of the posts.

Hoarty added the conversion.

Shortly afterwards a Maunder kick forced the Warriors to drop out from under their own posts and after a strong drive from loose forward Chris Mellor the ball reached Keevil who brushed off three defenders on a thirty-metre run to score at the side of the posts and complete his hat-trick on his return to the side following almost three months out with injury.

Hoarty converted to bring up the half century but then just before the hour mark a high kick from Wibsey stand-off Jimmy Rodger was fumbled by Rovers and full back Luke Helliwell pounced on the loose ball to score at the side of the posts.

Winger Kane Gray added the conversion.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon came four minutes later when Rovers’ substitute Mark Forster rolled back the years to power through the Wibsey defence on a forty metre run to score a fine try and the side of the posts.

Hoarty converted and then a kick by Maunder cannoned off a Wibsey player into the arms of Rosson and he put Maunder over for his hat-trick in the left corner.

Rovers’ last try of the afternoon came when Berry kept the ball alive in the tackle and slipped a lovely ball to Maunder who scored his fourth try in the left corner.

Hoarty goaled from the touchline but then in the final minute good work by Wibsey second row Daniel Conroy saw him find loose forward Christopher Vogel who scored wide out on the left to make the final score 66-10 to a very happy Rovers’ side.

Man of the match was awarded to Rovers’ hooker Harry Files.

He was very well supported by second row Tom Keevil, scrum half Billy Maunder, prop forward Bobby McGregor and stand-off Jake Upton while winger Matt Dalton and substitutes Olly Hands and Tom McIntosh can be very proud of their debut performances.

Rovers: James Rosson; Matt Dalton, Lewis Hoarty, Paul Berry, Christian Taylor; Jake Upton, Billy Maunder; Jack Sherratt, Harry Files, Bobby McGregor, Anthony Clayton, Tom Keevil, Chris Mellor. Subs: Olly Hands, Tom McIntosh, Mark Forster.