AN impressive second-half display from Woolston Rovers A saw them start life in the North West Men’s League Entry Division with a 22-6 victory over Widnes St Maries at Monk Sports Club.

The first half proved to be a real arm wrestle with both sides’ defences on top and it wasn’t until six minutes before the break that the deadlock was broken as Rovers centre and man-of-the-match Tom Byrne crossed for a try.

Five minutes into the second half Rovers centre Sean Millington went over and stand-off Rhys Brindley converted and then 10 minutes later Ben Roberts scored a fine try that was also improved.

St Maries gave themselves a glimmer of hope when second-row Jack Hares scored a try that was converted by loose-forward Michael Stevenson but almost immediately Rovers responded with a touchdown from substitute Dan Griffiths. Brindley added the conversion to complete the scoring.

Rovers A player/coach Craig Woolvine said: “We made it difficult for ourselves at times, especially in the first half, with silly mistakes when we had the ball but we rectified things at half time and we were much more controlled in the second half and that enabled us to pull clear and claim the victory.”

Rovers A: Ben Roberts; Danny Hoyland, Tom Byrne, Sean Millington, Joe Buxton; Rhys Brindley, Elliott Best; Ben Crewe, Craig Woolvine, Mitchell Clynes, Tom Fagan, Nathan Maguire, Ryan Palin. Subs: Tom Harvey, Anthony Reilly, Dan Griffiths.