Bradford Dudley Hill 12

Warrington Woolston Rovers 34

WARRINGTON Woolston Rovers reached the inaugural National League Three Grand Final thanks to an outstanding performance in Bradford.

Rovers had lost twice to table toppers Dudley Hill in league games but a confident second half showing on the back of gritty defending booked the team's ticket to face Teesside Steelers in the final at Winnington Park Rugby Union ground in Northwich on September 14.

Warrington Woolston started slowly against the minor premiers but it was two tries in the final five minutes of the first half that turned their fortunes around and laid the platform for the second half improvement.

Chris Mellor led the way with two tries and three goals while there were also touch downs for Jon Cole, Andy James, Mark Wallington, Dave Powlesland and Paul Berry.

Mellor's first try with 18 minutes on the clock cancelled out Dudley's third minute score but then a string of conceded penalties in goal-kicking range cost them six points.

A slender 16-12 half-time lead came courtesy of Cole finishing off a fluid passing move and James barging his way over.

Rovers applied constant pressure to the home team's try line after the break and were rewarded after 49 minutes when Mellor crossed for his second.

Dudley Hill tried to get back in the game but bodies were laid on the line as every team member played their part in keeping the opposition out.

The Bradford side were put on the back foot again and Wallington touched down the crucial try that signalled the game was in the bag.

Powlesland's and Berry's tries came in the last 15 minutes to rub salt into the Bradford wounds.

Team: Mark Wallington; Paul Berry, Iain Fowler, Jon Cole, Kris Buckley; Dave Kelly, Liam McCarthy; Dave Powlesland, Craig Harris, Matt Patterson, Dave Patterson, Chris Mellor, Liam Horrigan. Subs: Andy James, Karl Taylor, Neil Hyde, Lee Rushton.