Woolston Rovers made it back-to-back wins with victory at Wigan St Judes in a closely contested National Conference League Division Two encounter at Parsons Meadow, Wigan on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute when second row Dan Fearnley made a fine break and after a repeat set the ball reached Fearnley once again and he scored on the right. Stand off Theo Holt converted and then eight minutes later hooker Adam Files made a forty metre break before finding Holt in support so score on the right.

St Judes replied on the half hour when a mistake by Rovers allowed centre Calum Palmer to pick up a loose ball and go through a gap to score in the corner. Loose forward Danny Cassidy converted from the touchline and then four minutes before the break a kick on the last tackle from stand off Josh Yates was collected superbly by Cassidy to score on the left and make the half time score 10-10.

Twelve minutes into the second half St Judes had full back Dec Parkinson sin binned for a trip and from the resulting penalty Rovers made the extra man count as centre Olly Parr went over in the left corner but four minutes later St Judes responded when Cassidy broke through some weak tackling to score on the left. He added the conversion to put his side ahead for the first time at 16-14.

Rovers refused to panic and they started to build up some momentum and that paid off when a fine solo run by full back Morgan Williams saw him score in the right corner to put his side back in front and shortly afterwards St Judes had Yates yellow carded for dissent and with three minutes remaining Rovers made sure of the win when loose forward Ryan Brown found A Files who went over for a try. Holt added the conversion to complete a 24-16 success for the Green & Gold men.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Rovers hooker Adam Files. He was very well supported by prop forwards Harry Files and Ryan Hickman.

After the game Rovers Head of Rugby Mal Holt said, “We made the short trip to Wigan and came away with a hard fought win; we got off to a great start but some lapses in concentration allowed St Judes back into the game and it was in the balance until late on when we thankfully scored two decent tries to move clear and get the victory. We never felt in any real trouble, even when we went behind, but we kept inviting pressure on ourselves which made our life difficult at times. There was some good shape being played which is a result of the great work that Billy Sheen (NCL Coach) is doing with the lads; they are starting to deliver what he is coaching them which puts us in a good position for the remainder of the season.”

ST JUDES

Dec Parkinson, Lewis Melling, Reece Matthews, Calum Palmer, Barry Rothwell, Josh yates, Jacob Dugdlae, Tom Owen, Jason Holland, Josh Rogerson, Connor Parkinson, Danny Cassidy.

Subs: Callum Silcock, Adam Lavin, Aaron Smith, Will Halliwell.

Tries
Palmer (30 mins), Cassidy (36, 57).

Goals
Cassidy 2 from 3

ROVERS

Morgan Williams, Dan Griffiths, Olly Parr, Kieran Moore, Jake Toher, Theo Holt, Dec Leonard, Harry Files, Adam Files, Ryan Hickman, Dan Fearnley, Paul Alcock, Ryan Brown.

Subs: Scott Whiteley, Sam Roberts, Ben Crewe, Thodorhs Nianiakas.

Tries
Fearnley (15 mins), Holt (23), Parr (52), Williams (72), A Files (77).

Goals
Holt 2 from 5

Referee: Adam Williams.