TARLETON 15 - 8 WARRINGTON

The need for a game plan which kept the ball tight and played to Warrington’s strength in the forwards was reinforced by the steady rain which fell throughout the match. For the most part Warrington stuck well to this plan, providing an exciting, if unspectacular, entertainment. Indeed, despite the slippery conditions, both teams handled the ball well with fewer errors than would have been expected in the circumstances.

In the first half Warrington made good use of the slight but consistent breeze at their backs through the common sense kicking of veteran Kev Jones at stand-off. Coupled with enthusiastic chasing, this tactic kept Tarleton in their own territory for most of the first half. Warrington came close to crossing the whitewash in the fifthteenth minute, winning a line-out just 15 metres out and barging up to the Tarleton line through a series of pick and drives with Lynch and Hamblett to the fore. Warrington were pinged for holding on after the tackle but two minutes later, the penalty went the other way when Tarleton were penalised for not supporting their own weight at the ruck. Jones slotted a well-earned penalty. 0-3

From the restart, Warrington again drove deep into Tarleton territory with veterans Martin Tierney and John Bennett willing participants. When Tarleton were again penalised, a quick take by an alert Jones gave Warrington the touchdown but the referee was not impressed by such enterprise and demanded a retake.

Warrington were not to be denied, however. The Warrington pack with a front row of Bennett, White and Bennett dominated the scrums and gave No 8 Downes a reliable platform from which to launch his characteristic forays. One such rumble earned a try just before the interval to give Warrington an 8-point lead at half-time.

HT 0-8

5 minutes into the second half, a not unwarranted departure from the game plan proved to be Warrington’s undoing. Tarleton just pipped Warrington in the race to collect a cross kick which instead of a Warrington score resulted in a try for the home side. 7-8.

It was now Tarleton’s turn to adopt the kicking game and play in the Warrington half. Full back Luke Turner conceded a penalty when caught without support but the attempt went wide. Tarleton, too, could see the benefits of the close game and forward pressure on the Warrington line, although resolutely resisted with Tierney and White conspicuous, earned a second try. 12-8.

With 10 minutes to go Tarleton landed another penalty and nearly scored a third try from a kick through behind Warrington’s backs. The superior speed of Turner to the touchdown limited the damage to a 5 metre scrum.

In the closing minutes of the game, President John Callander came on to register his 427th first team appearance for Warrington!

FT 15-8

This was a game which could easily gone either way and, although coming away with only a losing bonus point, Warrington showed more cohesion in the dire conditions than they have this season so far.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC