WOOLSTON Rovers are just one victory away from promotion.

After a thrilling semi-final victory over Wigan St Judes at Monk Sports Club on Saturday, the Green and Golds will contest the National Conference League Division Two play-off final for the chance to join neighbours Crosfields in Division One next year.

They will face either Shaw Cross Sharks or Saddleworth Rangers in the final on September 30, with the other semi-final taking place this weekend.

A Shaw Cross victory would mean Woolston travelling to the Dewsbury-based side for the final, but Rovers would have home advantage if Saddleworth are their opposition having finished higher in the Division Two table.

All of Rovers’ points in their 20-18 victory came in the first half, with hooker Adam Files crossing for a hat-trick of tries while centre Cameron Davies scored their other four-pointer. Two conversions were added from the boot of Craig Lawton.

They had to survive a frantic finish as Dante Morley-Samuels touched down for the visitors to trim Woolston’s lead to just two points with two minutes remaining, but they held on calmly to move to the brink of glory.

“The neutrals must have loved this as it was what play-off rugby league is all about – two tough teams going at it for eighty minutes for a place in the final,” Rovers head of rugby Mal Holt said.

“In the first half, we were in control and were by far the better side.

“In the second half, we allowed Judes back into the game but we kept composed and our defence was outstanding.

“I think our game management and decision-making was better than Judes’ and we got the win we wanted. Onto the final now and one last eighty minutes.”

Woolston: James Tarpey; Alex Pendlebury, Cameron Davies, Sam Vernon, Kyle Cherrett; Craig Lawton, Dec Leonard; Harry Files, Adam Files, Ryan Hickman, Scott Whiteley, Dan Fearnley, Ryan Brown. Subs: Kieran Moore, Sean Boyle, Ryan Palin, Matt Taylor