Hindley 26 Woolston Rovers 10

WOOLSTON Rovers head coach John Fieldhouse was “extremely pleased” with his side’s young players despite a pre-season friendly defeat to North West Men’s League opposition.

Connor Muir, a new signing from Latchford Albion, and Christian Taylor scored tries for Rovers, but their Wigan-based hosts were able to secure victory with five tries of their own.

“That was a good run out for us in very testing conditions; the pitch was very heavy but it won’t do us any harm in the long run,” Fieldhouse said.

“It was a great chance to see how the youngsters fared at this level and I was extremely pleased with them all.”

Six of this year’s Under 18s side, five of whom were playing at Under 16 level last season, were making their open age debuts.

After Muir put Rovers ahead with an interception try, with Will Chadwick adding the extras, two scores from Chris Piercy ensured a two-point lead for Hindley at the break.

The NWML Premier Division side profited from Rovers’ errors after the interval, with Raith Stringer scoring twice before a try from Alan Nuttall put the game beyond the visitors.

Muir sent Taylor over wide on the left for a consolation score for Rovers, who face West Bank Bears in their next pre-season friendly before opening their National Conference League Division Three campaign at Oldham St Annes on March 4.