Ward seals handsome win

DANNY Ward bagged a hat-trick as Rotherham United eased into pre-season with a comfortable win over Parkgate.

Another good crowd for the annual friendly at Roundwood saw manager Alan Stubbs field a different team in each half, with trialists Ryan Taylor and Guillaume Francois among the many players on duty.

The Millers met some strong early resistance from the part-timers before Kirk Broadfoot set them on the way to a 7-0 victory just before half time with a header.

One of the contingent of trialists doubled the advantage soon after the break and an own goal made it 3-0 before Ward got to work. He seized on a lovely flick from Jerry Yates to score his first and after Yates himself made it 5-0, Ward lashed in a smart second and then rounded off the scoring with a cool finish.

There was also a run-out for new signing Anthony Forde in the second half while Lee Freckington (virus) and Aimen Belaid (groin) sat out the action.

Millers first half: Camp; Kelly, Broadfoot, Halford, Rose, Warren, Trialist, Dawson, Trialist, Muskwe, Clarke-Harris.

Millers second half: Trialist; Trialist, Wood, Thorpe, Mattock, Forde, Smallwood, Trialist, Bailey-King, Ward, Yates.