Bolton 41-10 Warrington

Most recent exchanges with Bolton have turned in Warrington’s favour, but though the first half was evenly contested Bolton forged ahead in the second, adding 28 unanswered points. Minutes into the game, in what was a precursor of things to come, Warrington were penalised for a seemingly innocuous high tackle 35 meters out. Bolton converted. 3-0

From the restart, although Bolton fielded the ball, aggressive tackling in particular from centre James Hartill taking a leaf from father Dave’s book, earned Warrington a penalty just outside the Bolton 22 which stand-off Matt Beeley confidently converted. 3-3

5 minutes later Bolton failed to convert a long penalty, their only miss of the game, and it was Warrington who went ahead 5 minutes after that. Again, aggressive Warrington tackling was the catalyst, forcing Bolton to spill the ball which was then snapped up by second rower Josh Maskery who battled 20 meters to score under the posts. Beeley added the extras. 3-10.

Midway through the half, Warrington again breached the Bolton line but could not ground the ball. Bolton’s quick drops-out from under the posts found Warrington slow to react and took the home side quickly back into the Warrington half where they were awarded another penalty duly converted. 6-10.

Bolton retained possession from the restart, kicking deep into Warrington territory where full back Almond found himself with little support and was dispossessed. A chip and chase into the deep in goal area was won by Bolton for their first try. 13-10

Captain Josh Downes fielded the restart and rampaged up to the Bolton 22 but Warrington could not capitalise on this as they were penalised for sealing off at the ruck. With half time beckoning, full back Andy Almond initiated an attack from deep inside his own half putting centre Kevin McCombie away down the right. An inside pass to Beeley deep in Bolton’s 22 looked to have the makings of a try but the final pass to back rower Phil Lynch did not go to hand and the last flurry of the half petered out.

HT 13-10

Bolton got off to flying start for the second half, gaining possession and territorial advantage from an exchange of kicks and stretching Warrington defending too narrowly. 20-10. Thereafter the game was largely played between the 22s with neither side able to put more than five or six phases together without spilling the ball or some infringement. Unfortunately, too many of these infringements were penalties against Warrington which took the sting out of any Warrington attack or, worse, added points for the home side. Bolton thus stretched their lead to 29-10.

Two more tries followed in the last 10 minutes as Warrington seemed to lose their defensive shape.

FT 41-10

Rustiness and a big change in personnel are problems for all coaches at the start of the season, but with some players departing for college, others returning from holiday and many, it would appear on this showing, too eager to give penalties, new coach Richard Park will have his hands full for a considerable time.