Woolston Rovers 18 Salford City Roosters 6

JOHN Fieldhouse hailed an “outstanding defensive display” from his Woolston Rovers side as they opened their league campaign with a victory.

However, he stressed the need to make fewer handling errors than they did against Salford City Roosters on Saturday.

Lewis Hoarty, Will Chadwick, Nick Braide and Justin Becker crossed for the hosts at the newly-renamed Sadore Construction Field, but Fieldhouse is calling for a better completion rate from his side when they host Waterhead Warriors on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

“I am extremely happy to start the season off with a win, unlike last year where we struggled early on,” he said.

“The victory was built on an outstanding defensive display by every player.

“It was certainly needed as our completion rate was very poor.

“You won’t win many games if you make that many handling errors.

“We will work on this aspect in training this week and I have no doubt that we will improve next weekend.”

It took Woolston just 10 minutes to open the scoring, with the impressive Theo Holt putting Hoarty through a gap to score on the right.

Poor handling and execution denied Rovers the chance to extend their lead, meaning they had to settle for a 4-0 half-time advantage.

Two minutes after the restart, however, they did score again as a swift handling move saw Aaron Barber find Chadwick, who squeezed over in the corner.

Shortly afterwards, Chadwick was involved again as he superbly batted Conner Muir’s kick to the corner backwards, with Braide the grateful recipient to touch down and Glyn Roberts adding the conversion.

However, Salford got themselves a foothold in the game when Tom Pratt touched down after Rovers spilled a high bomb from Paul Morgan, who converted to reduce the deficit to eight points.

That proved merely a consolation, however, as Woolston sealed the victory as breaks by Roberts and Muir got them on the front foot before quick play-the-balls led to Becker scoring out wide.

Woolston: Glyn Roberts; Justin Becker, Aaron Barber, Lewis Hoarty, Will Chadwick; Theo Holt, Conner Muir; Jack Sherratt, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Nick Braide, Matt Clarke, Harry Files. Subs: Anthony Clayton, Sam Roberts, Dan Fearnley, Anthony Braide.

Woolston Rovers u18 34 Thatto Heath Crusaders u18 16

WILL Ridge scored twice as Rovers' under 18s scored an impressive victory over Thatto Heath.

Jake Bray, Dec Leonard, Ross McGlone, Jacob Proudlove and Kieran Moore also crossed the whitewash, with Bray and Leonard, twice, adding conversions.

"We have come up against a very tough Thatto Heath side and coped really well," coach John Morris said.

"The lads are really enjoying their rugby and it is showing in their performances.

"We are getting better each week and I feel that there is still a lot of improvement in us so hopefully we can continue to pick up the wins."

Woolston: Tom Gaskell; Jake Bray, Callum Harnett-Smy, Ross McGlone, Will Ridge; Dec Leonard, Jake Eccles; Owen Hazlehurst, Kieran Moore, Jacob Proudlove, Joel Irvine, Todd Preston, Sean Millington. Subs: Ben Moore, Audie Day, Lewis Smith, Charlie Cook, Tom Lowe.

Warrington Guardian:

Jacob Proudlove carries the ball in for Woolston Rovers under 18s