Woolston Rovers A 32 Rylands Sharks A 34.

A RIP-ROARING encounter between two local rivals saw Rylands edge out Woolston despite a late fight-back from the home side.

The win, Sharks’ second in a row, moves them above Rovers and off the bottom of the North West Men’s League Division Three table.

The visitors took just three minutes to take the lead when Rob Campbell crashed over from close range before Rovers hit straight back when Jimmy Evans crossed in the corner after a blind-side move.

Campbell got his second after powering through from 10 metres out to put Sharks back in front, but Reece Forrest’s score again levelled matters for the hosts.

Sam Brinksman then evaded some weak Rovers tackling to touch down left of the posts to give his side the lead for a third time, Hayden Gahgan adding his third conversion.

That ensured Rylands led at the break despite Ian Ward finishing off a fine handling move for Rovers before half-time.

The sides turned around separated by only two points, setting up an engrossing second period.

It was the home side who drew first blood after the interval when Ward slipped a nice ball to Evans for his second to put Rovers in front for the first time.

Rylands were not deterred, however, and Luke Walker scored between the posts from close range with Gahgan’s goal putting his side in the ascendancy again.

And the visitors stretched their lead to two scores when a sweeping move put Rob Woolridge over in the left corner, only for Evans to cross for his hat-trick to keep Rovers in touch.

Walker looked to have won the game for Rylands when he broke clear and scored on the right, but the hosts had one final push and Sam Vernon collected Jason Rutter’s chip over the top to touch down.

Rovers threw everything at their visitors to try and snatch a last-gasp win, but Rylands held on to take victory.

They return to action on Saturday week, July 9, at Bold Miners.

Woolston’s next league encounter is seven days later at Wigan St Judes.

Rovers A: Jason Rutter; Lewis Mercer, Jake Bennicke, Jimmy Evans, Dan Farrell; Danny Halliwell, Ian Ward; Richard Potts, Callum Moore, Jake Bennicke, Tom Fagan, Sam Vernon, Mark Robinson. Subs: Jack Harper, Reece Forrest, Mike Leicester, Andrew Nadin.

Sharks A: Aaron Holliday; Jack Inman, Rob Wooldridge, Hayden Gahgan, Richard Clancy; Elliot Best, Luke Walker; Rob Campbell, Chris Meacock, Mal Mason, Liam Lawton, Dave Manfredi, Mitch McJay. Subs: Sam Brinksman, Steve Gamble, Lee Thomas, Callum Hewitt.