WARRINGTON 32 - 29 LIVERPOOL ST HELENS

For the second year in a row Warrington earned themselves a place in the final of the Lancashire Trophy Cup with this narrow win which could have so easily gone the other way. Despite outscoring the opposition 6 tries to 4, Warrington managed no conversions due to the early loss of their kicker Matt Beeley to a recurrent groin strain. Warrington also had to contend with an unsettled squad where more than half the team had changed from the previous week, including the crucial half back partnership of Archie Kellett and Harrison Turner.

Warrington had a glorious start when the visitors kicked the ball dead and Warrington won the restart scrum from the centre. Lining up three and one, captain and No8 Danny Fleming broke to the open side and fed winger Kyle Cherrett on the LSH 10m line. Cherrett laid his ears back and, despatching his opposite number with a powerful handoff, romped to the corner for Warrington’s first try. 5-0

The lead was short lived, however, as LSH struck back five minutes later when their centre took a good line at speed through Warrington’s mid-field defence to score under the posts. 5-7

Sound tactical kicking from the visitors kept the pressure on Warrington but determined defensive work, particularly from back rowers Steve Antrobus and Sam Whalley, initially held LSH up over the Warrington line. The visitors were adept at recycling the ball in the forwards, however, and eventually ground over for a second try. 5-14

In these circumstances, Warrington’s best defence was retaining possession and attack which, in the thirtieth minute, they did, with Turner returning an LSH kick with a 40m jinking run. Warrington in turn recycled the ball quickly and centre Ryan Newton battled his way over for Warrington’s second try. 10-17

Warrington were now beginning to keep more possession but it was LSH who edged further ahead with a penalty from the 10m line when Warrington were pinged for not releasing. 10-17

Continuing pressure from Warrington saw middle row Austin Carr held up over the line. From the subsequent drop out winger River Cole initiated another attack but was high tackled as he headed for the line. This earned LSH their first yellow card to which they added another just two minutes later as the referee tired of their ignoring his warnings.

With almost the last play of the half, prop Tom Green registered Warrington’s third try finishing off a succession of short range Warrington drives.

HT 15-17

Warrington opened their second half tally in the second minute with a try from centre Christian Johnson and Captain Danny Fleming added Warrington’s fifth just three minutes later courageously taking a short penalty on the LSH 5m line and squirming his way over. 25-17

LSH stormed back to within a point ten minutes after that scoring their third try in characteristic fashion from a series of well executed forward drives. 25-24

Warrington were beginning to keep more possession and another jinking run from Turner put winger Cole away on the half way line. Cole earned a line-out just 5m out but this was successfully thwarted by LSH who attempted to break out with their pick and go technique. Crunching tackles from back rower Andy Kellett spilled the ball on the LSH 22 and prevented their progress up field.

As the pressure told on LSH, they earned another two yellow cards, the first for a high tackle and the second for dissension. Just two minutes later they increased their haul to three when Ryan Newton was awarded a penalty try for yet more high tackling on him. 32 -24

Whether Warrington relaxed, knowing they were three men up, or whether this heightened LSH’s resolve, with fifteen minutes to go the visitors began to put pressure on Warrington. A counter by Archie Kellett when LSH dropped the ball in attack took the ball up to half way and his pass took out the last defender, but the ball did not go to hand and a try, which would have made the last ten minutes less tense, went a begging.

With five minutes to go, and now almost returned to full strength, LSH scored another try using their tried and tested technique. Fortunately for Warrington time ran out before they got another opportunity to demonstrate that particular skill.

FT 32-29

Team:-
1) T.Green, 2) S.Bennett, 3) A.Rowan, 4) W.Morgan, 5) A.Carr, 6) S.Whalley, 7) S.Antrobus, 8) D.Fleming (c),
9) H.Turner, 10) M.Beeley, 11) R.Cole, 12) A.Kellett, 13) R.Newton, 14) K.Sherrett, 15) M.Caldwell

Bench:- 16) A.Kellett, 17) J.Barker, 18) C.Johnstone, 19) T.Hamblett

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC

Next game: - Warrington v Trafford MV on 22nd November 2025 KO 2:15pm

Warrington RUFC

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