WARRINGTON 29 - 33 BOLTON

With a strong wind at their back Warrington dominated early possession. A neat off load from centre Jamie Hartill to full back Jack Rigby, cracked Bolton’s defence with No 8 Danny Fleming being the beneficiary as he barreled over for Warrington’s first try in the fifth minute. Danny Newens added the extras. 7-0.

Bolton were undeterred and, gaining easy yards from a succession of penalties taken quickly, they registered their first try five minutes later. 7-5.

Warrington then won a line-out 10 metres out from the Bolton line but, with the strong wind making possession difficult, could not retain the ball and Bolton ran the ball back into the Warrington 22. Another succession of infringements gave Bolton the opportunity for an easy 3 points which they could not refuse and which put them in the lead 7-8.

Fifteen minutes later, however, winger Nathan Bass put Warrington back in front when an excellent pass from prop Sam Bennett found him outside his opposite number giving him an unopposed route to the line. This lead was not retained for long, however, as a commendable phase of direct running from Josh Downes, Bennett and Phil Lynch ended in a wayward offload which was hacked downfield by Bolton for a try. 12-13.

Back on the attack Warrington got over the try line but were held up. Centre Kyle Cherrett gathered the restart and battled back into the Bolton 22 where Downes carried on the hard work. The ball was eventually shipped wide and a well-timed pass from Hartill put winger Ryan Eastwood in for Warrington’s third try in the fortieth minute. 17-13.

HT 17-13

Warrington extended their lead early in the second half when a good break by the speedy Bass took Warrington into the Bolton 22. Further carries by Lynch and Jack Barker took the ball to the line where hooker Jamie Sterling finished it off with Warrington’s bonus point try. 22-13.

It was now Bolton’s turn to attack and only a quick sprint back and tackle round the bootlaces from full back Rigby stopped a try when Bolton threaded a kick through. Bolton were not to be denied, however, and five minutes later, well-timed passing and direct running opened up Warrington’s centre for a try under the posts. 22-20.

Bolton began to make more use of the strong wind to pin Warrington back. With twenty minutes to go, Warrington leaked a further 3 points when they were penalised for a high tackle in their 22. 22-23.

Rigby was then again in try-saving mode as he collected a Bolton kick in his in goal area and just evaded the oncoming chasers to take the ball out to the 22.

With ten minutes to go, a loose pass from Warrington on their 10 metre line was snapped up by the Bolton centre who scampered over under the posts. 22-30.

Bolton added another penalty when Warrington infringed at a line-out and although Lynch pulled back another try for Warrington, converted by Newens, in the dying minutes, it was too little too late.

FT 29-33.

There was no shortage of excitement in this 9 try, last game of the season but even though Warrington outscored Bolton by 5 tries to 4, the visitors had the better discipline and the edge in the kicking stakes. The result leaves Warrington second bottom of the table with only Bolton, who have won only two games this season and both of them against Warrington, beneath them.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC