ECCLES 26 - 23 WARRINGTON

Although the pitch was heavy underfoot, the calm, sunny conditions provided the perfect conditions for open rugby for the first game of the New Year. This opinion was shared by both sides who produced an enthralling, free-flowing game whose result was in the balance until the end.

In the first five minutes a superb 50/20 kick from full back Rockey, who was on song the entire game, laid the foundations for the opening score. Line-out possession from the reliable Josh Maskery, followed by a strong drive from captain Josh Downes earned a penalty in the Eccles 22 duly slotted by stand-off Adam Whalley. 0-3.

From the restart, Warrington gained the rub of the green when a Whalley kick was deflected but snapped up by Jonny Evans, carried on by Kyle Cherrett and finished off with a 20 metre dash from full back Rockey. 0-8.

Eccles struck back with a good try moving the ball confidently in their back division from their own half with Warrington’s defence wrong-footed in the heavy conditions. 7-8. A probing grubber kick behind the Warrington defence brought a second try as a slip from winger Luke Turner opened the door for the Eccles winger. 12-8.

With thirty minutes gone, Warrington declined a penalty in the Eccles 22, backing themselves from a 5 metre line-out. Although the line-out was won, a rehearsed move round the front of the line was thwarted by a knock-on with more than a hint of deliberation which went unpunished by the referee. Eccles regained possession and, despite being severely pressed in their in-goal area, retained enough shape and composure to break out and travel the length of the pitch with Warrington in vain pursuit. 19-8.

Whalley pulled 3 points back for Warrington with a penalty in the Eccles 22 when the home side were penalised for persistent mouthiness and the half finished with Warrington pressing in Eccles territory. 19-11.

HT 19-11

Lacking its regular stalwarts through Christmas chills and commitments, Warrington’s front row was further under pressure at the start of the second half when Downes who had been deputising as prop retired temporarily.

Early in the half Eccles gained a pushover try at the second attempt, the first having been saved by the valiant efforts of scrum half Hartill. 26-11. Committed Warrington tackling was the order of the day as Eccles began to dominate possession in the third quarter, but the return of Downes and a reorganisation in the back division put Warrington in the driving seat. Winger Jack Rigby stepped in at scrum-half with centre Steve Antrobus moving to the wing and it was here that Antrobus notched up Warrington’s second try following some robust running from centre Cherrett. 26-16.

Warrington were now beginning to get the upper hand and with fifteen minutes to go, a break from Hartill, now at centre, was well supported by full back Rockey but the last pass went astray. With ten minutes to go, full back Rockey counter attacked from his own half, bringing the ball back to the Eccles 10m line, and again linked with Hartill who took the ball over the Eccles line. Unfortunately, the pass was judged forward.

Warrington continued their onslaught, gaining a 5m line-out, from which a free-kick was awarded. Quickly taken, Danny Fleming managed to get the ball down in the melee. Whalley converted to make it 26-23. Somewhat surprisingly there was no restart and some disappointment, at least among Warrington fans, that there was to be no more nail-biting play when Warrington looked well on top.

FT 26-23

This was a good display from Warrington with strong committed tackling when they were not in possession. In attack. Warrington mixed their options well but, in an eagerness to move the ball wide quickly, on occasion the long pass undid the benefit of the extra man in the line. Although near the bottom of the table, this result against the league leaders on their own turf, shows that Warrington are far from languishing and have lost none of their accustomed fight.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC