1st XV
Matches
Sat 03 Dec 2022  ·  Counties 1 adm Lancashire & Cheshire
Warrington RUFC
1st XV
25
20
Didsbury Toc H
WARRINGTON 25 - 20 DIDSBURY TOC H

WARRINGTON 25 - 20 DIDSBURY TOC H

Warrington RUFC Webmaster4 Dec 2022 - 14:38
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1st Team report for 3rd December 2022

WARRINGTON 25 - 20 DIDSBURY TOC H

Warrington lead from the outset of the first return match of the season, just managing to sustain that lead through a nail-biting last 10 minutes’ courtesy of a combination of great defensive commitment and self-destructive behaviour from the visitors.

Warrington got off to a dream start when Toc H knocked on the opening kick on to give Warrington a scrum on the Toc H 22. A strong scrum, where the formidable front row of Bennett, Ward and White, had the upper hand throughout the match, gave scrum-half Tom Wood steady possession for a well-timed pass to rumbustious centre Jack Stride who bounced off the first tackler and evaded two more before touching down for Warrington’s first try. With a conversion by Matt Beeley, Warrington were 7 points up in two minutes.

Almost immediately, however, the visitors pulled 3 points back with a penalty from Warrington’s 22, Warrington being penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck. A penalty, Beeley, apiece followed in quick succession with both sides being pulled up for off-side.13-6.

Toc H began to dominate possession and were the slicker side at retaining and recycling the ball. In the 25th minute some poor tackling from Warrington let Toc H in under the posts for an equalising try. The visitors continued to press and only resolute defence in the 5m area kept Toc H at bay. They were held up over the line and Warrington eased the pressure with a dropout from under the posts.

With minutes remaining in the first half, Warrington made a rod for their own back by being marched back 10m for some unwelcome comment on a penalty decision. Fortunately, the kick went wide.

HT 13-13.

Warrington began to get themselves more into the game in the second half and an early line out just 10m from the Toc H line looked prime for a rolling maul. Although Warrington collected the throw-in, the construction of the maul was ponderous, no momentum was gained and Toc H were granted a scrum. Although Warrington now had more possession and were making half-breaks up the middle, the ball was rarely recycled quickly enough or spread wide enough to beat the defence. On a couple of occasions when the ball did go wide and a try seemed inevitable, the last pass once to Turner, after a break by Fleming continued by Beeley, and on to Ward went astray.

With 15 minutes of the half gone, scrum-half Wood finally made good on Warrington’s attacking efforts driving over from close range, capitalising on an excellent break by centre Hughes, Beeley converted. 20-13.Warrington came close 10 minutes later when their driving maul from a line-out did gain traction but both scrum-half Whittaker and subsequently winger Turner were stopped just short.

With 8 minutes to go Toc H benefitted from what seemed to be a knock-on on the Warrington 22. Although Warrington collected the ball, a counter attack from their own line instead of a clearance kick was the ill-fated option. Caught in possession in front of the posts, Warrington conceded a scrum, giving possession to Toc H who scrambled a try. 20-20.

A good restart from Warrington with the speedy Turner putting pressure on the catcher deep in his 22 saw the Toc H clearance kick collected by Caldwell who passed to Josh Riley on the Toc H 10m line. Riley’s repeated hand-offs saw off no fewer than four would-be tacklers and allowed him to run under the posts for a magnificent try. The conversion was missed, however, adding extra tension to the final minutes. 25-20.

Toc H went on the attack and were once again thwarted by being held up over the line. They recovered Warrington’s drop-out and were again inching closer to the Warrington line with a series of pick and drives. In what was the last play of the game, when a try looked almost inevitable, Toc H were penalised for taking a Warrington defender out of the game!

FT 25-20.

In the circumstances, it could be argued that Toc H’s indiscipline lost them the game, but Warrington’s tenacious defence was a hugely significant factor. This doggedness may not have been needed to quite the same extent had Warrington been a) a bit more pragmatic in their tactics and b) made greater use of their other asset, a sharp back division.

Squad: -
J Ward, C White (C), S Bennett, G Percival, J Riley, J Evans, A Kellett, D Flemming
T Wood, M Beeley, J Rigby, J Stride, J Abram, L Turner, M Caldwell
J Whittaker, J Brazendale, K Hughes

Roy Potts WRUFC

Match details

Match date

Sat 03 Dec 2022

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Counties 1 adm Lancashire & Cheshire

League position

2
Didsbury Toc H
3
Warrington
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