Crosfields 22 Woolston Rovers 20.

CROSFIELDS clinched the National Conference League Division Three title in dramatic style on Saturday as they edged out neighbours and closest challengers Woolston at Hood Lane.

In a tense local derby, Rovers had the better of the first half and held a comfortable advantage going into the latter stages before Soap skipper Jack Reid’s try in the last play of the game sealed a remarkable comeback win.

Hayden James, Jimmy Rookes and Ben Mellor also crossed for the hosts, while tries for John Fieldhouse’s side came from Chris Twigg, Theo Holt, Bobby McGregor and Justin Becker.

However, it was Tony Benson’s Soap side, beaten just once in the league all season, who prevailed to ensure their first silverware since 2002 and consign Rovers to the play-offs.

After the game, Fieldhouse offered his warmest congratulations to Soap.

“We failed to man manage the game when we were 20-10 up and ended up losing to an injury time try which was gutting for us all,” he said.

“Congratulations to Crosfields who have proved over the season to be the most consistent side and we will now need to show some character and come back stronger in the play offs.”

A large and expectant crowd awaited the sides and the hosts settled better to take an early lead when Billy Sheen used his quick feet to engineer a line break and he found James in support for a try between the posts, giving Reid an easy conversion.

Knowing only a win would do to keep their title hopes alive, Rovers took the bull by the horns and equalised through Chris Twigg, who celebrated his call-up to the Thailand squad by crossing in the corner and adding an excellent touchline conversion.

Rovers couldn’t quite believe their luck shortly after when the usually-reliable Reid tried a dangerous looping pass on his own try line which was picked off by Holt for a simple converted try.

Soap were really on the rack now and, after they were put on a team warning for conceding a string of penalties, McGregor punished them with a try to give Rovers a 16-6 half-time lead.

The hosts needed a strong start to the second half and they got one after Nathan Taylor’s kick off was allowed to go dead to force a goal line drop out.

From the resulting pressure, Sheen’s chip over the top was pounced upon by Rookes to put Soap back in the contest but more indiscipline cost the hosts as Jordan Chilton was sent to the sin bin.

Woolston turned the screw and duly extended their advantage when in-form Australian centre Justin Becker strolled through a huge gap to score but, crucially as it turned out, Twigg was off target with the conversion.

That proved the catalyst for a Soap comeback and Ben Mellor got the ball rolling by backing up a superb drive from Matt Barber by crashing over the line.

Crosfields put the visitors under intense pressure, but Rovers showed admirable steel in defence along with some luck as both Reid and Steve Pickersgill had tries ruled out for knock-ons over the line.

However, their luck ran out in the final minute when, after Barber was held up just short, Reid stepped his way through to spark wild celebrations among the Soap faithful, with the conversion a formality to seal a thrilling contest.

Soap: Nathan Taylor; Ian Boden, Chris Burgess, Chris Hull, Kieran Thomas; Jack Reid, Billy Sheen; Steve Pickersgill, Hayden James, John Pickersgill, Jordan Chilton, Joe Moore, Joe Clarke. Subs: Jimmy Rookes, Ben Mellor, Matt Thomason, Matt Barber.

Rovers: Dani Garcia O’Brien, Chris Twigg, Justin Becker, Lewis Hoarty, Wil Maudsley, Theo Holt, Billy Maunder, Chris Mellor, Ryan Brown, Andy Addison, Cameron Davies, Sean Conway, Dan Fearnley. Subs: Craig Middlemore, Christian Taylor, Bobby McGregor, Conner Scrivens.