WARRINGTON 25 - 55 BROUGHTON PARK

Simple, unforced errors, some weak tackling at crucial moments and bouts of white-line fever compounded Warrington’s major difficulty in finding a settled back division and resulted in a score line not truly reflective of the balance of the game. Warrington’s pack dominated the scrum and, under the guidance of veteran Riley, nullified Broughton Park’s line-out. Broughton Park’s nine tries, however, did reflect their ability to take the chances presented whereas Warrington’s three reflected their inability to capitalise on theirs.

In the second minute stand-off Little opened Warrington’s account with a penalty from Broughton Park’s 10 metre line. Unfortunately, the incident that led to the penalty involved a clash of heads which led to centre Rayhill being replaced by Myers.

Broughton Park took the lead five minutes later when a dilatory Warrington defence allowed the visitors to reclaim their chip kick and chalk up their first try. A simple but slick attack from Warrington with the ball moving smoothly to the wing then looked to be bringing dividends but the final pass to the wing was deemed forward.

The visitors racked up their second try in the twenty fifth minute taking advantage of some weak Warrington tackling and another two minutes later, running from their own half. Although centre Turner and winger Rigby were quickly up in defence their speedy pressure was insufficient to contain Broughton Park’s ability to manufacture an overlap. An own goal from Warrington in the form of an interception on their 10 metre line gave Broughton Park an unchallenged run under the posts for their fourth try.

Just before half time, No 8 Fleming initiated Warrington’s first try, stealing the ball in a ruck on the Broughton Park 10 metre line and rampaging deep into the visitors’ 22. The Warrington pack put in more determined phases finally shipping the ball out for centre Graham to score under the posts. Myers converted.

From the restart second row Baker gained possession and broke through the Broughton Park line but was brought down just short and Warrington had to settle for a penalty duly converted by Little. 13-22

HT 13-22

Five minutes into the second half, Warrington were on the attack but spilled the ball in the centre. Broughton Park snapped up the gift and darted under the posts for an easy conversion. A well-judged cross kick from Myers gave winger Hickman Warrington’s second try but, despite sound possession from the set piece, simple dropped passes thwarted Warrington’s efforts to reduce the deficit.

A fluent interchange between Turner and Hickman took the ball from the Warrington 10 metre line deep into Broughton Park territory. Under severe pressure, the visitors nevertheless scrambled the ball away, jinked through Warrington’s first and only line of defence and scampered the length of the pitch for another try.

Warrington were not without their chances. Another well struck cross kick looked promising but Warrington’s receiver was judged off-side and again, quick passing down the line ended not in a try but in a forward pass.

In the seventy fifth minute Danny Fleming finally earned Warrington’s third try, converted by Little completing a set of phases where Evans and Baker had been to the fore. Unfortunately, the visitors had the final say, scoring two more tries from initial breaks in their own half and outpacing the remaining Warrington cover.

FT 25-55