WIGAN 25 - 18 WARRINGTON

In this first round clash of old adversaries in the RFU Men’s Community Cup Counties 1 North Plate both teams served up an enthralling game of tactical rugby and though there were the inevitable spills due to the wet conditions these were much fewer than might have been expected.

Warrington took to the field with no fewer than nine changes to the previous week including seventeen-year-old South African Rikoe Jansen making his open age debut on the wing. The youngster was soon in the thick of things as Warrington kept to their usual game plan moving the ball about despite the conditions. A seemingly high tackle on the winger went unpunished but minutes later Warrington were awarded a penalty on Wigan’s 22 easily converted by JP Hudson. 0-3

Standoff Matt Beeley dictated play with a clever mix of cross kicks, up and unders and chips over the top one of which nearly brought dividends for Tom McEniff. With ten minutes gone the centre hacked the ball on into the opposition 22 but Wigan managed to scramble the ball away.

Warrington, having played most of the game in the Wigan half, were awarded a penalty in the eighteenth minute but this one hit the post and bounced out. Warrington kept up the pressure to force a try line drop out. This was collected cleanly and a neat pass opened the Wigan defense for a clear run to the line for winger Luke Turner but Warrington were hauled back for crossing.

It was now Wigan’s turn on the offensive. Warrington charged down a short kick through but the ball bounced straight into the hands of Wigan’s chasing centre and he scampered through for a try under the posts. 7-3

Wigan began to gain more territory forcing a succession of scrums deep in Warrington’s half and demanding resolute defense where back rower Steve Antrobus was much in evidence. Although Wigan’s pack were the brawnier outfit, Warrington’s unlikely front row of Jon Bennett, Sam Bennett and Ty Hamblett were a sound platform to guarantee Warrington’s own ball giving No8 Danny Fleming the time to pick from the back and earn the hard yards back up the pitch.

Just before half time some crushing tackles by second rower Will Morgan, home from the sea, and prop Hamblett earned Warrington a turnover. Quick ball found centre Hudson whose well-timed pass to McEniff gave his fellow centre enough room for a mazey run to the posts. Hudson’s conversion put Warrington ahead at the interval. 7-10

HT 7-10

Wigan equalised with a penalty within minutes of the restart and then the heavens opened. What had been a steady drizzle turned into a relentless downpour for the rest of the match. 10-10

Warrington’s real woes started five minutes later when Sam Bennett was awarded a yellow card for some scuffling on the ground. Not content with a yellow, a fit of petulance saw the yellow promoted to red as, on the way off the pitch, the prop tripped a Wigan player who had taken the penalty quickly. Warrington were thus reduced not to fourteen men but, come the next scrum, to thirteen!

Previously prop Jon Bennett had received a knock to the head and had been replaced by Jamie Sterling. Having used up the front row replacement, scrums had to be uncontested which triggered the ruling that the team causing the change had to lose a player.

Wigan made good use of this advantage and, despite dogged resistance from an undaunted Warrington, bulldozed their way over for a try after camping on the Warrington line for about ten minutes. 17-10
Ten minutes later a penalty stretched Wigan’s lead to 10. With shades of their first try, Wigan notched up a third when their kick through, initially blocked by Warrington, again bounced into Wigan hands. 25-10

Warrington were now reduced to twelve men with a yellow awarded to JP Hudson for a high tackle but, nothing daunted took the game to Wigan. Their can-do attitude was rewarded by a try from short range by the indefatigable Jonny Evans. 25-15
Game to the last, Warringtons Hudson landed another penalty to put them within range of a draw and, two men down, were keeping the ball alive and attacking until the final whistle.

FT 25-18

Team:-
1) J.Bennett, 2) S.Bennett, 3) T.Hamblett, 4) W.Morgan, 5) A.Carr 6) S.Antrobus, 7) J.Evans,
8) D.Fleming (c) 9) O.Hudson, 10) M.Beeley, 11) R.Janson, 12) JP.Hudson, 13) T.McNiff,
14) L.Turner 15) M.Caldwell

Bench:- 16) J.Sterling, 17) C.Johnstone, 18) K.McCombie

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC

Next game:- New Brighton v Warrington on 4th October 2025 KO 3pm

Warrington RUFC

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