HEATON MOOR 20 – 13 WARRINGTON

Warrington got off to a flying start with a try before the home team had laid a finger on the ball. Collecting the kick-off, Warrington went through numerous phases recycling competently before spinning the ball wide where a final pass from Luke Turner at centre to Ryan Eastwood gave the big winger the score. 0-5.

The first scrum after about 10 minutes was a good omen for the rest of the game as Warrington had the home side retreating. This, and the efforts of scrum half Charlie Hughes as he harassed his opposite number, kept the home side on the back foot. The Warrington back division again had a new slant with Danny Newens returning to stand-off after a few fallow years, but their handling was slick and confident, their interplay with the forwards was sound and gave Warrington territorial and possessional advantage for the first half.

Newens edged Warrington further ahead in the twentieth minute with a long penalty from Warrington’s 10 metre line. 0-8.
Captain Josh Downes nearly extended the lead even further after a 60 metre run when one of his many bullocking runs put him cleanly through the Heaton Moor defence but he was brought down just short. Warrington continued the pressure, camping just 10 metres out from the Heaton Moor line but although the home side conceded a number of penalties during this onslaught, their defence held. They exited with a well-judged up and under, recovering the ball from the air on the half way line and romping under Warrington’s posts on the stroke of half-time.

HT 7-8

Heaton Moor got more into the game in the second half and with play see-sawing from end to end exerted pressure on Warrington’s line. Despite some solid defence, Warrington conceded too many penalties and eventually Heaton Moor prevailed. 14-8. At the Heaton Moor end a succession of pick and drives from the Warrington pack took them from the 22 right to the line but at the last gasp the ball was spilled forward.

Warrington were then penalised for a no arms tackle which earned Heaton Moor a penalty on the Warrington 22 which they duly converted. 17-8.

With twenty minutes to go, Heaton Moor earned a yellow card for an infringement in the red zone and Warrington took advantage of the extra man, setting up another set of pick and drives, which this time met with success as prop Sam Bennett burrowed his way over. 17-13. A yellow card to Warrington for a deliberate knock on then evened the numbers on the pitch and gave Heaton Moor another 3 points. 20-13.

With time running out Warrington pounded on the Heaton Moor line but were staunchly resisted. Then still just 10 metres from the Heaton Moor line, they were awarded a succession of free kicks at which they opted for scrums, which had then become uncontested. Unfortunately, time ran out before this last burst of pressure bore fruit.

FT 20-13

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC