WARRINGTON 14 - 87 WIDNES

With an ominous echo of the previous week’s game against Aldwinians, the Widnes full back immediately ran the ball back in attack. Although the man himself was demolished by an uncompromising tackle from Phil Lynch, his kick resulted in a line-out to Warrington just metres from the try line. Again, however, although Luke Little’s clearance kick was long, Widnes ran the ball back for an early try. A second try followed almost from the restart as the Widnes back division’s slick passing and clever off loads made scoring look easy.

Fifteen minutes in, Warrington gained a line-out on the Widnes 22. An in form Jack Barker secured possession and a well-rehearsed rolling maul took back rower Lynch clear of immediate defenders and earned a try. Little converted. 7-12.

Widnes bounced back immediately manufacturing a simple overlap which left Warrington’s defenders floundering.

Four more similar tries in a similar vein followed. Warrington mopped up the forward phases with committed tackling but struggled to contend with the visitors’ speed and cohesion when the ball was moved wide.

Warrington were not without their moments as quick passing put full back Andy Almond away but his grubber kick for Lynch in support was scrambled away just short of the Widnes try line. Just before half time a succession of pick and drives from Hamblett, Downes and Jones made good headway up the middle to within yards of the Widnes line but this too came to naught as Warrington were eventually penalised for holding on after the tackle. Half time score 7-40.

Widnes scored twice more in the second half before Warrington again threatened the line but this time Hamblett was judged to have been held up after successive drives from Maskerry and Riley. With twenty minutes left, Warrington finally got some reward from a second Lynch try when the ever-present back rower finished off a series of Warrington pick and goes, Little converted.

Unfortunately, this was the last time Warrington bothered the scoreboard and Widnes ran in a further five tries. Warrington just could not match the visitors’ speed, accuracy and ball retention and will not be looking for award to the visit to Widnes for their penultimate game of the season.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC