WOOLSTON Rovers produced one of their best performances of the season to claim a very hard-fought 26-22 win against an in-form Normanton Knights side in an entertaining National Conference League Division Two fixture at Monks Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.

Knights opened the scoring after four minutes when a high kick on the last tackle bounced kindly for stand off Jacob Crossland to collect and score under the posts. Full back Charlie Barker converted but then just after the midway point of the half Rovers replied when prop forward Harry Files stepped round the defence to score. Full back Aaron Barber converted to level matters at 6-6.

Shortly afterwards a great run by hooker Adam Files split the Knights defence and he offloaded to H Files who sold an outrageous dummy and shot through the gap to score a fine try and then just after the half hour centre Lewis Hoarty intercepted a Normanton pass and raced clear to score under the posts. Barber added the conversion.

Right on the stroke of half time Normanton got themselves back into the game when some slick passing saw the ball reach centre Jimmy Brown and he managed to force his way over on the right with three defenders on him. Barker added the conversion to make the interval score 16-12 to Rovers.

Five minutes into the second half a great ‘show and go’ from Rovers stand off Theo Holt saw him create space to put Hoarty over in the right corner but then nine minutes later Normanton responded when a kick on the last tackle was collected by winger Arran Clark who scored in the right corner. Barker landed a fine touchline conversion.

Just before the hour mark Rovers scrum half Dec Leonard took the ball to the line and slipped an outrageous ball to centre Kieran Moore who scored under the posts. Leonard converted and the Knights had Clark sin binned for dissent following the try but while he was off the field his side managed to narrow the gap as a long ‘cut out’ pass created space for winger Jack Millward who scored in the left corner to set up a grandstand final fifteen minutes.

As the game entered the final minute the Knights had Crossland sin binned for dissent and Rovers were able to see the game out to register a richly deserved and very important 26-22 success that keeps them in the top six in the league table.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers prop forward Harry Files. He was very well supported by centres Lewis Hoarty, on his return to the club after a two year absence, and Kieran Moore.

Rovers head of rugby Mal Holt said: “That was a well-earned win for us in a thrilling game.

"We showed great character to tough it out against a Normanton side who are in fourth place and this made it a very tasty encounter.

"The game was close from minute one to minute eighty with plenty of drama throughout. We kept plugging away and got our just rewards in the end.

"This keeps our top six hopes in our own hands and we must now back this up when we travel to Beverley.”

Rovers: Aaron Barber, Tom Byrne, Kieran Moore, Lewis Hoarty, Karlton Bates, Theo Holt, Dec Leonard, Harry Files, Adam Files, Ryan Hickman, Dan Fearnley, Scott Whiteley, Ryan Brown.

Subs: Thodorhs Nianiakas, Jake Eccles, Craig Lawton, Josh Sudlow.

Tries: H Files (21 mins, 25), Hoarty (31, 45), Moore (57).

Goals: Barber 2, Leonard 1

Knights: Charlie Barker, Jack Millward, Connor Wilson, Jimmy Brown, Arron Clark, Jacob Crossland, Kieran Hinchcliffe, Sam Butler, Bradley Moules, Stuart Biscomb, Ashley Haynes, Alex Barker, Luke Molloy. Subs: Jack Slater, Adam Biscomb, Luke Camplin, Joel Millward.

Tries: Crossland (4 mins), Brown (40), Clark (54), Millward (64).

Goals: Barker 3

Meanwhile, Woolston Rovers A produced a magnificent performance to record a 42-20 win at Leigh East A that moved them back into the top four of North West Men's League Division Three on Saturday afternoon at Leigh Sports Village.

Rovers opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a try from centre Dan Griffiths. Scrum half Jay-Jay Catterall converted but eight minutes later Leigh East responded with a try from winger Joshua Lee.

The home side took the lead for the only time just after the midway point of the half with a try from winger Chris Hodgson but Rovers retook the lead on the half hour when hooker Ben Kenwright crossed for a try. Catterall added the conversion.

Almost immediately Rovers were on the attack once again and Griffiths went over for a try and straight from the restart they were over once again as full back Ben Roberts scored. Catterall converted both tries but then just before the break Hodgson scored a try for Leigh East that was converted by second row Connor Johnson to make the half time score 24-14 to Rovers.

Rovers started the second half well and were soon on the front foot and this allowed stand off James Tarpey to score. Catterall converted but then East scrum half Ryan Green replied for the hosts. Johnson added the conversion.

The points were secured for Rovers when impressive prop forward Ryan Palin scored. Catterall converted and then in the final minute Kenwright capped off a fine display for the visitors with his second try. Catterall completed a perfect afternoon with the boot as he added his seventh conversion to give Rovers an excellent 42-20 victory.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers ‘A’ prop forward Ryan Palin. He was very well supported by centre Dan Griffiths and scrum half Jay-Jay Catterall.

Rovers A coach Liam Lawton said: “That was a brilliant all-round team performance; probably one of our best of the season.

"We came here a fortnight ago and got well beat but we turned that around with a dominant display that saw us claim a fantastic win.

"Our defence was really good but our attack was excellent and that enabled us to score some fantastic tries. We have given ourselves a great chance of being in the end of season top four play off with this victory.”

Rovers A: Ben Roberts, Connor Thorpe, Craig Woolvine, Dan Griffiths, Ben Buckley, James Tarpey, Jay-Jay Catterall, Ben Crewe, Ben Kenwright, Ryan Palin, Sam Vernon, Nathan Maguire, Cameron Davies. Subs: Andy Ward, Max Ainsworth, Chris Forster, Lewis Dawson.