Woolston Rovers 40 Gateshead Storm 18

A BLISTERING second-half display helped Woolston Rovers secure a play-off place in National Conference League Division Three.

With automatic promotion out of reach, John Fieldhouse’s side will be hoping to push on and secure a home semi final.

Luke Walker and Glyn Roberts scored twice each, with the latter also converting six of Rovers’ seven tries at Monks Sports Club.

Ryan Brown, Theo Holt and Dan Fearnley were also on the scoresheet for the home side.

After falling 6-0 behind early through Sam Jones’ effort for Gateshead, Rovers responded in kind when Brown muscled his way over from dummy-half.

Roberts then collected a slick Connor Muir pass before rounding the defence to score his first try, but Michael Mitchell crossed for the visitors to ensure the scores were level after the break.

Three minutes after the restart, Brown sent Holt through a gap and he gave Rovers a lead they would not relinquish.

Holt then turned provider for Walker’s first try as his kick was collected by the winger.

Fearnley stretched over despite the presence of three Storm defenders to extend the lead before Walker scored the game’s stand-out try.

After collected a kick in his own in-goal area, the winger weaved his way through the defence and raced the length of the field to touch down.

Roberts then spotted a gap from the base of a Rovers scrum and scorched home from 60 metres to round off Rovers’ scoring, making Chris Parker’s late score for Gateshead immaterial.

Rovers also had Harry Files sin-binned and substitute Christian Taylor sent off late on, but their work was long since done.

Woolston: Glyn Roberts; Luke Walker, Justin Becker, Troy Brophy, Alex Dunne; Theo Holt, Connor Muir; Dan Fearnley, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Scott Whiteley, Sean Conway, Harry Files. Subs: Aaron Barber, Christian Taylor, Danny Griffiths, Jack Sherratt.