Woolston Rovers bounced back to winning ways in sublime fashion with a clinical display to comprehensively defeat Waterhead Warriors in the NCL League C on Saturday afternoon at Peach Road, Oldham.

Rovers got off to the perfect start by opening the scoring in the very first minute; an error from the kick off by the visitors was then copied by Waterhead and that allowed hooker Adam Files to make a break and he slipped the ball to prop forward Sam Roberts who kept the ball alive and scrum half Ryan Brown picked up before passing out to winger Dan Griffiths who scored in the right corner and then nine minutes later pressure paid off as stand off Theo Holt found centre Kieran Moore who scored on the left.

Just before the half hour mark fine work from prop forward Harry Files was carried on by A Files who found substitute Ben Moore and he crashed over at the right of the posts. Full back Aaron Barber converted but then five minutes before the break Waterhead got on the scoreboard when second row George Maders went over for a try following a penalty to make the interval score 14-4 in Rovers favour.

Five minutes into the second half a fine break by A Files put Rovers deep into the opposition half and some slick passing saw the ball reach Roberts who scored on the right. Barber converted and then just after the hour the lead was increased when H Files scored. Barber added the conversion.

Rovers were now in total control and following a penalty A Files sent H Files on a thirty metre run to score his second try. Barber goaled and then a minor skirmish saw Griffiths sin binned for Rovers along with Waterhead scum half Bradley Jinks and second row Callum Cameron and the extra man advantage paid off when B Moore cleverly pinched the ball in a one-on-one tackle and a quick play the ball saw A Files find Holt who weaved through to score. Barber added the conversion.

The scoring was completed two minutes from time when Rovers second row Cameron Davies took the ball in and slipped out a lovely ball to A Files who scored on the left. Barber converted to round off a very impressive 44-4 victory for the Green & Gold men.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers prop forward Harry Files. He was very well supported by hooker Adam Files, prop forward Sam Roberts and substitute Josh Sudlow.

After the game Rovers Head of Coaching Mal Holt said, “It is great to get back to winning ways with a superb display; we controlled the game throughout with their only points coming following a succession of penalties. It was a tough physical game, we lost Scott Whiteley early on with a bad shoulder injury, but the quality within the starting line up and on the subs bench meant that we were able to cope with this. We had too many strike players and were able to hurt them all over the park. I was really pleased with how we reacted to the two defeats; the lads reacted to what I asked them to do before the game and at half time, which was to stay in control and be patient. We rolled them down the middle with Harry and Adam Files being a constant menace to them throughout.”

ROVERS

Aaron Barber, Craig Middlemore, Kieran Moore, Dan Fearnley, Dan Griffiths, Theo Holt, Ryan Brown, Sam Roberts, Adam Files, Harry Files, Ryan Hickman, Cameron Davies, Scott Whiteley.

Subs: James Jones, Josh Sudlow, Matt Taylor, Ben Moore.

Tries
Griffiths (1 min), K Moore (10), B Moore (29), Roberts (45), H Files (63, 67), Holt (75), A Files (78).

Goals
Barber 6

Referee: Ollie Maddock.