DESPITE being down on numbers, Crosfields managed to fight back and secure a draw from their trip to Oulton Raiders on Saturday.

Unfortunately, however, Woolston Rovers and Latchford Albion emerged from the weekend empty-handed having lost their games.

Soap came from 18-6 down to take a point from their trip to Yorkshire thanks to a late Nathan Taylor try, with Brad Stanway’s touchline conversion that would have taken them in front drifting narrowly wide.

Stanway had earlier crossed for a try in the National Conference League Division One fixture along with Joe Barnes and Tom Brown.

“The lads were awesome today – the attitude is what makes all the midweek struggles worthwhile,” Crosfields head coach Rob Campbell said as he now prepares his second-place team for a trip to winless Hull Dockers on Saturday.

“I am so proud of them today – in true Soap style they showed their true grit and determination.

“We have another tough ask next week away at Hull Dockers, but we go again this week and hopefully we’ll get some good, productive training sessions under our belt. “

Rovers’ 26-10 loss to Wigan St Patricks was their first home defeat of the year, with a harsh red card for substitute Lewis Dawson proving costly.

They had started the second half strongly when Dawson was dismissed having trailed 14-4 at the break, with Dan Fearnley scoring their first-half try.

However, the St Pats defence held out and seized their moment to strike with a numerical advantage, taking the game away from Rovers for whom Fearnley crossed for a second try on the stroke of full time.

Woolston host Leigh Miners Rangers on Saturday and head coach Billy Sheen wants to see his side find a way to emerge from tight games victorious.

“We are certainly competing against teams for large parts of games but at the crucial moments, we are not able to take our chances and that has resulted in us losing some close games,” he said.

“We need to have confidence in our ability and start to dominate teams more by respecting the ball and competing our sets.

“Leigh Miners have had a decent start to the season so will provide us with another tough test, but it is one that we are looking forward to.”

Rovers currently sit ninth in the NCL Division One table.

In the North West Men’s League, Latchford Albion were edged out in a low-scoring thriller at Heysham Atoms on Saturday.

However, head coach Martyn Ellis was keen to heap praise on what was a young and inexperienced side after their 7-6 loss.

A converted try followed by a drop goal gave Heysham a crucial two-score lead on a very heavy pitch and despite Latchford moving back to within striking distance thanks to Ben Harper’s try and Nathan Bond’s conversion, they could not find their way through a determined Heysham defence again.

“We turned up today with six of our under 18s stepping up to open age and we gave them a real good go, and were so close to turning this loss into a win,” Ellis said.

“Within our 17-man squad, we had nine players who have played less than 10 games for the club but not one of them looked out of place.

“It gives us great confidence knowing that we have a great system in place for the development of players moving forward who can complete at this level.”

Latchford now move on to face Ashton Bears at Victoria Park on Saturday.