With this second narrow victory Warrington earned their place in the John Burgess Lancashire Cup final to be played at the end of the season against Firwood Waterloo.

Playing against a stiff breeze in the first half Warrington racked up five tries to gain a comfortable 19-point lead by half time. This was extended to 26 but Aldwinians rallied strongly in the last quarter scoring 3 unanswered tries providing a very tense finish to the game. Honours were pretty much even at the set scrum where props James Lloyd and youngster Keane Hoyes both made their debuts. At the line-outs, however, possession was less secure as the lack of seasoned jumper Johnnie Evans told.

Scrum half Jude Lightfoot opened proceedings for Warrington in the tenth minute scampering over from the base of a maul 20m out. 0-5
From the restart, a magnificent phase of passing and off-loading was initiated by Tom McEniff from full back, carried on by centre Ryan Newton and winger Luke Turner. This took play from the Warrington 22 to the Aldwinian try line where McEniff touched down to finish what he had started. 0-10

In the twenty fifth minute, centre Archie Kellett intercepted on the half way line. He was eventually hauled down in the Aldwinian 22 but not before delivering a neat grubber kick chased for a touchdown by stand-off JP Hudson. 0-15

With the benefit of the strong breeze Aldwinians pumped the restart kick almost to the Warrington try line. Here they turned possession over and drove over from short range for their first try. 7-15

Five minutes later, Warrington were penalised for a deliberate knock on giving Aldwinians an opportunity to pull 3 more points back with a long penalty from the touch line. 10-15

A strong bursting run from burly winger Kyle Cherrett as he collected an Aldwinian kick laid the foundation for Warrington’s fourth and Hudson’s second try. This time Hudson defied the wind to convert. 10-22

Just before half time, a break from Matt Beeley now installed at standoff opened up the Aldwinian defence on the half way line and with the ubiquitous backrower Steve Antrobus providing the link, hooker Harrison Turner went over for Warrington’s fifth try. Hudson converted to give Warrington a comfortable margin at the interval.

HT 10-29

In the third quarter, Warrington came close with two more try scoring chances, the first from a Beeley kick which just beat Newton to the dead ball line, the second from an inside pass to McEniff from Cherrett but the winger was judged to have a foot in touch. So no score came until the sixtieth minute when middle rower Will Morgan got his just desserts for all his earlier hard work as he ploughed over from a short penalty in the Aldwinian 22, Hudson converted. 10-36

Aldwinians bounced straight back, however, returning Warrington’s restart with an apparently aimless kick down the middle. No one seemed inclined to claim the ball for Warrington so Aldwians swept through to open their second half tally. 17-36

This obviously gave Aldwinians some heart and they began to dominate possession and territory with 25m rolling mauls and short range assaults on the Warrington try line. Warrington did not help their cause by giving away numerous penalties. With 5 minutes to go Aldwinians had scored two more tries to take the score to 29-36

An interception and touch down by live-wire Jack Whittaker might have settled nerves somewhat but the scrum half was ruled off-side. Although Warrington saw out the last few minutes in the Aldwinian 22, the result was uncomfortably close!

FT 29-36

Team:-
1) K.Hoyes *, 2) H Turner *, 3) J.Lloyd *, 4) W.Morgan *, 5) Harry Kellett (c) *,
6) S.Antrobus *, 7) S.Callander *, 8) D.Fleming *, 9) J.Lightfoot *, 10) JP.Hudson *,
11) L.Turner *, 12) Archie Kellett *, 13) R.Newton , 14) K.Cherrett 15) T.McEniff *

Replacements: - 1) Andy Kellett, 2) J.Baker *, 3) S.Whalley *, 4 M.Beeley *, 5) J.Whittaker *
*Indicates home grown players

Referee: - Jeffrey Ainslie (Manchester & District Referees Society)

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC