METS began a tough run of games against the top three sides by being well beaten by Woolston.

After holding the Warrington side for most of the first half, the Mets ran out of steam in the second and were overpowered by a stronger, more organised outfit.

Rovers opened the scoring and went 12-0 up in the first 10 minutes.

Bolton replied after stand off Paul Wilcox laid on the pass for prop Ryan Terry to crash through Woolston’s defensive line. Terry’s aggressive driving paid off as he went through for another, making it two tries apiece.

The Mets had a chance to go in front but could not capitalise on their powerful defensive play.

Second rowers Jon Atherton and Lewis Taylor were both high in the tackle count, backed up by hooker Neil Walsh, who never took a backward step.

As the first half came to a close Woolston started to control the game and ran in two more tries before the break.

The second half was all one way traffic as the Mets ran out of ideas.

However, the final score did not reflect the graft put in by Bolton in the early stages of the match.

Coach Chris Brown said: “With the injury list growing every week, and the team sheet changing every game, we are going through a bad patch.

“This will only make us stronger for the future. We still get 20-plus at training and it gives me the chance to blood new talent.”

The Mets travel to unbeaten Moss Bank from St Helens on Saturday.