Clock Face Miners 38 Woolston Rovers 28

INTERIM head coach Mal Holt believes Woolston Rovers were unfortunate to be on the losing side at Clock Face Miners on Thursday night.

In their first game since head coach John Fieldhouse quit the club, Rovers took the lead on four separate occasions but were pegged back each time.

The hosts were then able to pull away late on to condemn Woolston to defeat.

Debutant wing Mike Moye scored twice in the first half, with Niall Toher, Glyn Roberts and Ryan Hickman also crossing the whitewash and Lewis Hoarty adding four conversions.

“We are bitterly disappointed to come away with nothing from the game as we feel that we deserved something from it,” Holt said.

“I was really pleased with the way the boys performed and with a little more luck at crucial times, the result may well have been different.

“There were definitely a lot of positives to take from the game.

“We will be working really hard over the next two weeks to make sure we are in the best possible shape for our next game.”

After Clock Face took an early lead, Moye struck twice in quick succession to give Rovers the initiative. Hoarty converted one of those tries before the hosts went over again to level.

Toher twisted out of a tackle to put Woolston ahead again, but Clock Face ensured they went into the break level at 16-16.

Roberts rounded the cover to add his name to the scoresheet before a good link-up between Ryan Brown and Theo Holt allowed Hickman to power over between the posts, but on both occasions Rovers could not preserve the lead.

Clock Face made them pay with another try before adding a penalty to seal the victory two minutes from time.

Rovers must wait two weeks for the chance to bounce back when they host Dewsbury Celtic on Saturday, June 2.

Woolston: Glyn Roberts; Alex Dunne, Wil Maudsley, Lewis Hoarty, Mike Moye; Theo Holt, Aaron Barber; Jack Sherratt, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Niall Toher, Matt Clarke, Harry Files. Subs: Conner Muir, Daniel Markham, Dan Fearnley, Adam Files.

Woolston Rovers u18 16 Leigh Miners Rangers u18 22

DESPITE a second-half comeback, Woolston Rovers’ under 18s could not quite reel in their opponents.

Tom Gaskell scored the hosts’ only try of the first half as they trailed 16-4 at the break, but that proved the catalyst for a revival.

Gaskell scored again before Todd Preston’s try brought the scores level, but the visitors hit the front again late on and saw out the victory.

“It was a slow start for us that has probably cost us the game but once again I am really proud of the effort that the lads have put in,” Rovers under 18s coach John Morris said.

“We have done things a little tough over the past few weeks but the team spirit is first class and we will bounce back very soon.”

Woolston u18: Kieran Jones; Sean Millington, Tom Gaskell, Callum Harnett-Smy, Audie Day; Dec Leonard, Jake Eccles; Jacob Proudlove, Kieran Moore, Ben Moore, Joel Irvine, Todd Preston, Owen Hazlehurst. Subs: Fraser Borthwick, Charlie Cook.

Warrington Guardian:

Tom Gaskell scored two tries for Woolston Rovers under 18s against Leigh Miners Rangers. Picture by Paul Bray