Woolston Rovers ‘A’ went out of The Stuart Middleton Foundation Warrington Alliance Cup Semi Final when they were defeated by Burtonwood Bridge in a game that was in the balance until the closing stages at the Limestone Construction Field, Monk sports Club on Saturday lunchtime.

Bridge opened the scoring after two minutes when second row James Innes scored in the left corner and then seven minutes later quick hands out wide saw winger Oliver Morrissey go over in the right corner.

Rovers hit back on fifteen minutes when hooker James Tarpey took the line on himself and he scored close to the posts. Scrum half Jay-Jay Catterall converted to make the half time score 8-6 to Bridge.

Three minutes into the second half Rovers lost possession and stand off Craig Stanton picked up the loose ball and raced seventy metres to score. Scrum half Jos Blackburn-Woods converted to five minutes later Rovers responded when substitute Ben Kenwright twisted in the tackle and scored.

Rovers then had sustained periods of possession in the Burtonwood half but were unable to capitalise on this and quick hands out wide by Bridge had the Rovers defence all at sea and a long ball from Blackburn-Woods put centre Andrew Nesbit scored in the right corner.

A minute from time Rovers lost possession thirty metres from the Bridge posts and Nesbit picked up the loose ball and raced seventy metres to score under the posts. Blackburn-Woods converted to give his side a 24-10 win and a place in the Final against Burtonwood Chargers or Crosfields ‘A’ at Victoria Park Stadium on Wednesday 28th September.

Best for Rovers were hooker James Tarpey, full back Ben Roberts and substitute Rob Griffiths. For Bridge hooker Sam O’Gara, centre Andrew Nisbet and second row Rikki St Pier were the stand out performers.

After the game Rovers coach Liam Lawton said, “We are disappointed to have lost the game but credit to Bridge who took their chances to claim the win. We had plenty of possession and if we had been a bit more controlled with the ball then the result could have been different.”

ROVERS ‘A’

Ben Roberts, Connor Thorpe, Craig Woolvine, Dan Griffiths, Nathan Maguire, James Lawrie, Jay-Jay Catterall, Ryan Palin, James Tarpey, Ben Crewe, Sam Vernon, Theodoros Nianiakas, Cameron Davies.

Subs: Ben Kenwright, Tom Fagan, Rob Griffiths, Lewis Dawson.

BRIDGE

Ross Young, Oliver Morrissey, Kel Duffy, Andrew Nisbet, Tom Robinson, Craig Stanton, Jos Blackburn-Woods, Jack Fairclough, Sam O’Gara, Jacob Almond, Rikki St Pier, James Innes, Craig Holcroft.

Subs: Anthony Philbin, Ben Lloyd, Craig Burke, Craig Foster.