Woolston Rovers 20

Leigh Miners 6

WOOLSTON coach Dave Elliott paid tribute to his team's defensive effort after ending Leigh's unbeaten start to the National Conference League season.

Rovers built up a 20-2 half-time lead against the league leaders and then shut up shop.

Elliott said: "It wasn't a pretty second half for the supporters but our defence was exceptional after building the platform in the first period."

The coach admitted he was a happier man now that he has two wins from four outings.

He said: "We've had some of our name players missing and we've been going into games with players out of position.

"Even so, we have defended well all season. We've just not had the required experience at half back to give us the edge in attack."

But with scrum half Graham Smith and stand off Nigel Quarmby leading the way against Leigh the Rovers side sent out a message to the rest of the league saying: "Woolston are back."

Leigh could not handle the pace and power of Rovers in the opening half.

The first try came after only six minutes. Prop Paul Foster turned beautifully into a tackle and off-loaded to Smith so that he could put centre Tim Iddon over in the corner. Mark Wallington was short with his kick.

Then the outstanding Quarmby crossed for the first of his two tries. Smith switched play from right to left and then sent Quarmby flying through a gap in the reverse direction. Wallington was wide with the goal attempt again.

Winston Sarsfield banged over a penalty goal for Leigh to make it 8-2.

Wallington's jinking run created the next Woolston try. Hooker Liam Horrigan picked up the ball from acting half back and crossed the whitewash. Wallington converted.

In injury time a Quarmby special gave Woolston a 20-2 half-time advantage. He accelerated into a gap, slowed down to dance round full back Peter Sharpe and then raced in to complete his 40 yard run.

The only points in the second half came in the fifth minute of injury time, when Woolston's line was finally breached. Neil McCulloch crossed for the consolation.

Woolston: Mark Wallington, Mike Carter, Tim Iddon, James Brabin, Dave Lomax; Nigel Quarmby, Graham Smith; Mark Shephard, Liam Horrigan, Paul Foster, Adam Jude, Eddie Harris, Karl Taylor. Subs: Paul Fiddler, Rob Blackmore, Mike Briggs, Paul Clayton.

The games do not get any easier for Woolston as tomorrow, Saturday, they travel to Egremont, the Conference champions who knocked Rovers out of the National Cup last season.

Elliott said: "There are no easy matches any more. We are going from one hard game to the next. The league is very open I feel this year.

"But now that we've got our regular half backs together again I think we can make an impression in attack and the players have certainly responded well to the changes in the defensive pattern. We can build from the win over Leigh."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.