CROSFIELDS only had 14 available players for Saturday’s trip to Thornhill Trojans but there was no need to fret as they bagged a 46-14 success.

John Whittaker and Ben Steele each bagged a brace of tries against the winless bottom-of-the-table side.

Further scores came from Thomas Smith, Pat Flannery, Elliot Liku, Sam Hickey and Brad Stanway, who also kicked five conversions.

Second-rower Matty Barber said: “Seeing the majority of our players, especially the forwards, playing 80 minutes and giving it their all, was worth the journey over.

“The backs helped out with the hard graft too, and still had enough in the tank to run Thornhill’s defence ragged at times.

“It would be wrong to highlight one person’s performance but man-of-the-match Ben Steele was immense at full-back.”

Soap return to action at Hood Lane against Oulton Raiders on September 2.

Elsewhere, Woolston Rovers produced a below-par display as they went down 28-10 at Wigan St Judes in National Conference League Division Two.

St Judes were first on the scoreboard just before the midway point of the first half with a try from full-back Connor Parkinson and then eight minutes later they increased their lead when second row Joey Brady scored. Scrum half Danny Cassidy added the conversion to give his side a 10-0 advantage which is the way it remained at half time.

Three minutes into the second half St Judes substitute Aaron Smith scored a try; Cassidy converted and then ten minutes later Brady went over for his second try of the game. Cassidy added the conversion.

Just before the hour mark Rovers had scrum-half Joe Roper sin-binned for dissent but almost immediately Rovers got their first try when second-row Dan Fearnley scored and they belied the numerical disadvantage four minutes later with a try from winger Karlton Bates. Stand-off Craig Lawton added the conversion.

Rovers then had loose-forward Ryan Brown sent off for allegedly kicking out, while St Judes’ loose-forward was also dismissed for throwing a punch.

In the last minute Cassidy scored for St Judes and added the conversion himself.

Best for Rovers were Kieran Moore, Ryan Hickman, Dan Fearnley and Harry Files.

Rovers head of rugby Mal Holt said: “We struggled to get into the game and Judes seemed to want to win more than us.

“They controlled the game far better than we did and really hurt us.

“We got back into the game far too late and left ourselves too much to do.

“We need to get our enthusiasm back and get back to winning ways in readiness for the play-offs, which will now be a tough journey for us.”

Rovers: James Tarpey; Alex Pendlebury, Cameron Davies, Kieran Moore, Karlton Bates; Craig Lawton, Joe Roper; Harry Files, Adam Files, Ryan Hickman, Sam Vernon, Dan Fearnley, Ryan Brown. Subs: Tom Atherton, Ryan Palin, Ben Roberts, Ben Crewe.

Despite falling to a 46-22 defeat at Ashton Bears, Latchford Albion coach Martyn Ellis took a lot of positives from the game as his young side were competitive throughout.

Latchford fielded five of their under 18s squad against an established Ashton side, who are undefeated at home for over two seasons.

The hosts raced into an early 12-0 lead before tries from Josh Barnard and Charlie McCurrie, converted by Rob Marsh, tied the scores at 12 all after 30 minutes.

Albion were hit with two quickfire tries before the break from Ashton, who stepped up a gear in the opening stages of the second half, and a three-try blitz threatened to see them run away with the game.

Latchford regrouped and reverted back to the game plan.

This saw them add further tries from Logan Lagar and Nathan Bond, with Bond arguably scoring the try of the game - dummying his way through the home defence and then outpacing the oncoming full-back to race between the posts.

Ellis said: "We had a real good go against a side who have consistently been up at the top of this division for a number of years.

“After 30 minutes we were level and matching them play for play. They just had that little bit extra that we are aspiring to reach.

“To score 22 points, which is the most Ashton have conceded all season, shows we have the firepower, and three of our tries came from our under 18s who every week seem to be getting better and better and are really finding their feet at open age.”

Albion have a week off before hosting Halton Farnworth Hornets in their final home fixture of the season.