BROUGHTON PARK 49 - 32 WARRINGTON

Broughton Park took an early lead from a Warrington fumble in mid-field, snatching up the loose ball and moving it quickly wide to outflank the defence for their first try. 7-0, From the restart, a brilliant catch in the air by Josh Maskery took the lanky middle rower up to the Broughton Park 22 where Warrington earned a penalty duly slotted by Charlie Hughes. 7-3. Two minutes later, back at the other end, Warrington were awarded a free kick and surprisingly opted for a scrum from which Broughton Park gained a penalty which they in turn popped over. 10-3.

Warrington then reduced the deficit with a try from winger Luke Turner who wriggled over through heavy traffic after new recruit Kyle Cherrett at centre and subsequently prop Christian White were both brought down just short. 10-8. Broughton Park were next to score, charging down a Warrington exit kick in the Warrington 22. 15-8.

Warrington responded with a fine break from Hughes, wearing the unaccustomed No 10 jersey, but the final pass to fellow half-back Jack Rigby went astray as the line beckoned. No 8 Danny Fleming did make sure ten minutes later crashing over with his usual robust combination of determination and slipperiness with possession provided by Maskery from a line-out in the Broughton Park 22. 15-13.

Centre Cherrett put Warrington into the lead in the 35th minute finishing off a move started by back rower Murray Carr deep in Warrington territory and kept going by good support play and excellent off-loading from Harry Kellett and Brendan Dowle, converted by Hughes. 15-20.

On the back of a break from the elusive Turner, Kellett nearly scored again for Warrington but was held up over the line and it was Broughton Park who drew level when a chip kick found Warrington open at the back. 20-20.

From the restart, the last play before the interval, Broughton Park took the ball cleanly in their own 22, moved the ball wide to make an extra man on the wing and went the length of the pitch for a try under the posts. 27-20.

HT 27-20

Early in the second half Broughton Park received a second yellow card for a high tackle and from the subsequent scrum Warrington gained a push-over try with No 8 Fleming getting the touch down to even the scores with a Hughes conversion. 27-27.

It was then Warrington’s turn for a yellow card for a perceived deliberate knock on by Maskery. With disruptions due to this and to knocks and sprains to Rehill, Bennett and Hamblett in quick succession, Broughton Park capitalised and with some good off-loading earned two more tries. 37-27.

With 10 minutes to go Warrington were on the attack but a fumble, and a kick through by Broughton Park earned the home team another try. Warrington’s woes continued when, again on the attack, they conceded an interception deep in home team territory. Although the interceptor was brought down an apparent forward pass to his support was ignored by the referee and Broughton Park notched up their eighth try. 49-27.

Warrington had the last word, however, when prop White scored from a well-rehearsed move at the front of a 5 metre line-out.

FT 49-32.

Presented with dry, windless conditions perfect for open rugby, both sides contributed to an exciting, end to end spectacle on a balmy December day. The margin of victory does not really reflect the balance of the game but does indicate the home team’s ability to make the most of a number of Warrington errors. Although there were many individual highlights, the lack of a settled back line, most crucially at 9 and 10, remains Warrington’s Achilles heel.