Millom 38 Woolston Rovers 4

DESPITE a heavy defeat, interim head coach Mal Holt praised the character of his Woolston Rovers side as “second to none.”

Rovers were much-changed due to several players being unavailable, with many of the team stepping up from the club’s ‘A’ side to play.

Daniel Markham scored their only try in Cumbria, but Holt did not reflect on the experience as a negative one.

“Although the final score was a little disappointing, I thought the effort and character of the lads who put their hands up to play was second to none,” he said.

“The club should be proud of each and every one of them.

“Millom were better organised than us due to us having to bring several players in at the last minute and that is what proved to be the difference in the sides.

“The lads that stepped up from our NWML side and the die-hard regulars really gave their all and never let us down.

“We just need to re-group and get working hard in training over the next week.

“There were a lot of positive signs that give me great hope that we will turn things around and get back to winning ways very quickly.”

Rovers were already 16-0 down when Lewis Hoarty was sin-binned for disputing the decision to award Millom’s third try, with Dominic O’Brien scoring twice after Adam Kelly opened the scoring.

When Hoarty did return, he played a part in Woolston’s only score right on half time when he and Tom Fagan combined to find Markham, who kicked ahead and regathered to score on the right.

That made the half-time score 22-4 to the hosts, but it proved to be a false dawn as Millom were able to score twice more to seal their victory.

Woolston even finished the match with 12 players after Harry Files was sin-binned in the final minute.

They now sit seventh in National Conference League Division Three and welcome second-placed Barrow Island to Monks Sports Club on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

Woolston: Theo Holt; Tom Fagan, Dan Fearnley, Lewis Hoarty, Wil Maudsley; Aaron Barber, Conner Muir; Jack Sherratt, Ryan Brown, Max Ainsworth, Josh Sudlow, Daniel Markham, Harry Files. Sub: Kyle Brown, Tom Harvey, John Welch, Shaun Yoxall.

Woolston Rovers A saw Saturday’s scheduled game against Rochdale Cobras postponed as they looked to bounce back from their first loss of the season.

They travel to Westhoughton Lions in NWML Division Three on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.