Woolston Rovers 10 Thatto Heath Crusaders 15

CRUSADERS won this League Express BARLA National Cup third round tie far more convincingly than the scoreline suggests after a terrific first-half performance that paved the way for glory against high-flying National Conference Premier outfit Woolston Rovers.

Heath were on the scoresheet as early as the sixth-minute when centre Anthony Marsh took the ball from acting half-back to force his way over in the left-hand corner after good work by full-back Wayne Jackman who also added the two with an impressive touchline conversion.

On 12 minutes though Woolston were back in the hunt with a penalty by scrum-half Mark Wallington, a straightforward shot at goal from 30 yards out which he slotted over.

Heath continued to have the better of the play, however, and on 27 minutes, hooker Darren Mitchell and second-row Gary Forber took play deep into the Woolston half before the latter copped a head-high shot which gave Jackman a shot at goal which he duly accepted to put Heath 8-2 in front.

Mitchell was in the thick of the action again shortly afterwards, catching the Woolston defence napping as he took the ball from acting half, following a strong run by winger Neil Prescott, and powering his way over on 34 minutes. Jackman again added the extras to make it 14-2 at the break.

The visitors edged further ahead three minutes into the second half when stand-off Darren Harris popped over a short-range drop goal.

Woolston though hit back with a try by centre Sean Geritas, following good work by stand-off Nigel Quarmby. The conversion went wide.

Rovers were now getting more and more into the game and fitness looked like being a major factor with several of Heath's players just returning from injury or suspension.

However their defence was still working well and there was a very obvious, positive team spirit about them.

Midway through the half, Woolston were reduced to 12 men when centre Peter Livett was sin-binned but the homesters still piled on the pressure and only some fine cover defence kept them from scoring in the left-hand corner.

Then with four minutes to go, Livett marked his return to action by collecting a slightly forward-looking pass to score out wide but with the conversion going astray it was a case of too little, too late for Woolston and Heath deservedly head to Wakefield this week to face Eastmoor Dragons in the fourth round.

In a tremendous team performance, Darren Mitchell justly received the man-of-the-match award for Heath as he proved a constant thorn in Woolston's side with his probing breaks from acting half and solid defence.

A coach purely for spectators will leave The Springfield Hotel at 11am on Saturday for the trip to Eastmoor.