Woolston Rovers produced a brilliant comeback to claim a thrilling win over Oldham St Annes in the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three at The Sadore Construction Field, Monks Sports Club on Saturday afternoon to secure their play-off place.

The visitors got off to the best possible start when they opened the scoring straight from the kick off as they received the ball and broke straight down field for centre Oliver Bryan to score on the right. Stand off Matt Whitehead converted and then ten minutes later a short ball found winger Callum Cashin who scored in the left corner.

Just before the midway point Rovers got themselves on the scoreboard when substitute Adam Files forced his way over on the right with his first touch of the ball. Full back Glyn Roberts converted but then St Annes responded when a missed tackle allowed full back Rob Charles to go over under the posts. Whitehead added the conversion.

On the half hour some slick handling by Rovers saw the ball whipped along the line to reach winger Karlton Bates who scored in the left corner and four minutes later A Files twisted in the tackle and grounded the ball over the try line. Roberts added the conversion to level the score.

Right on the stroke of half time St Annes went back in front when substitute Luke Skilling went over in the left corner to give his side a 20-16 interval advantage.

Six minutes into the second half Rovers had centre Cameron Davies sin binned for punching and four minutes later St Annes made the extra man count as prop forward John Deakin broke through the line to score on the left. Whitehead converted but then on the hour Rovers loose forward Harry Files found a gap in the St Annes defence and forced his way over under the posts. Roberts added the conversion.

Almost immediately Rovers were over again when A Files completed his hat trick with a superb solo try. Roberts converted to put the home side ahead for the first time in the match but six minutes later the match was level once again as Whitehead slotted over a penalty after Rovers had been punished for holding down.

As the game moved inside the final ten minutes some great play by H Files saw him get the ball out to brother A Files and he weaved his way through the Oldham defence to score his fourth try of the match. Roberts converted and then quickly added a drop goal to establish a seven point lead for Rovers.

Five minutes from time Rovers made certain of the points when a long ball out from A Files was caught superbly by Bates who scored in the left corner to seal a superb 39-28 win for a delighted Woolston side in a pulsating encounter.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers substitute Adam Files. He was very well supported by winger Karlton Bates and loose forward Harry Files.

After the game Rovers Head Coach Mal Holt said, “That was a really hard fought win that secures our play off place although it all goes down to next week to see where our final position will be. We needed a result after the disappointment of last week and that is what we got. It was an arm wrestle for an hour in terrible conditions but we really stepped on the gas in the final quarter and pulled away from Oldham. Our forwards once again set the platform for our backs to control the game. Our kicking game in the second half was superb and put us in complete control of territory, which allowed us to then put continuous pressure on them. I thought that Adam Files was absolutely outstanding today supported well by his brother Harry and young seventeen year old Karlton Bates. Confidence will now be high going into our last game away at Waterhead.”

ROVERS

Glyn Roberts, Karlton Bates, Sean Millington, Cameron Davies, Christian Taylor, Theo Holt, Aaron Barber, Jack Sherratt, Ryan Brown, Ryan Hickman, Josh Sudlow, Daniel Markham, Harry Files.

Subs: Adam Files, Anthony Clayton, Kyle Brown, Danny Griffiths.