Woolston Rovers 24 Beverley 40

JOHN Fieldhouse says Saturday’s defeat to Beverley came “completely out of the blue” for his Woolston Rovers side.

The hosts found themselves 28-0 down at the break and, despite their best efforts, they could not overhaul the impressive visitors, who are coached by Hull FC and England prop Scott Taylor.

Troy Brophy, Ryan Hickman, Nick Braide and Luke Walker scored after the break, but Woolston’s unbeaten start to the National Conference League Division Three season came to a shuddering halt.

“That was very disappointing and completely out of the blue,” Fieldhouse said.

“We showed no respect for the ball when in possession and after two games where our defence had been excellent we seemed to forget how to tackle.

“Even though we conceded early in the second half, we competed a lot better and made the scoreline more respectable.

“To concede 40 points at home was a nightmare and we cannot have a repeat of that again.”

Lewis Poskitt scored twice as the visitors built up a commanding lead in the first half, with Tom Moor, Ben Bardle and Billy Riby also crossing the whitewash.

Poskitt completed his hat-trick after the break before Hickman finally got Rovers on the scoreboard by stealing the ball one-on-one and crashing over.

An interception then brought Poskitt his fourth try, but that proved the catalyst for a Rovers fightback.

Braide put Brophy over in the left corner before he sold the Beverley defence an outrageous dummy to cross himself.

Alex Dunne was sent off for stamping at the play-the-ball as Rovers were forced to see out the remainder of the game with 12 men and Josh Poskitt took advantage to nudge Beverley to the 40-point mark.

Rovers did have the final say when Brophy hacked on Conner Muir’s kick before Walker booted it further to touch down.

They welcome Stanley Rangers to Sadore Construction Field on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

Woolston: Luke Walker; Alex Dunne, Troy Brophy, Lewis Hoarty, Will Chadwick; Theo Holt, Conner Muir; Jack Sherratt, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Dan Fearnley, Anthony Clayton, Harry Files. Subs: Aaron Barber, Christian Taylor, Owen Hazlehurst, Nick Braide.

Halton Farnworth Hornets A 0 Woolston Rovers A 38

ROVERS A saw their game ended early on Saturday, but not before they had racked up a winning scoreline.

Adam Files scored a hat-trick and Olly Hands crossed twice, with Olly Parr and Ben Moore adding further scores before the referee brought an end to proceedings after 50 minutes with the hosts, who started with a scratch 13 players, reduced to 10 men through injuries.

“It wasn’t ideal with the referee calling the game off early but I fully understood why,” Rovers A coach Andy Penny said.

“They only had a bare thirteen to start with and with losing three players through injury he felt it was the safest thing to do.

“Some of our attacking play in the first half was outstanding and hopefully we can continue to play in that vein moving forward.”

Penny’s side visit Langworthy Reds on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

Woolston A: Liam Sullivan; Lewis Melia, Callum Moore, Olly Parr, Conor Clarke; Olly Hands, Billy Maunder; Matt Clarke, Adam Files, Matt Davy, Niall Toher, Tom Woodward, Sean Millington. Subs: Max Ainsworth, Ben Moore, Kyle Brown, Tom Harvey.

Warrington Guardian:

Olly Hands scored twice for Woolston Rovers A at Halton Farnworth Hornets A on Saturday. Picture by Simon Whitehead