WARRINGTON 30 - 29 TARLETON

Although leading for most of the game it was only with the last kick of the game did Warrington secure the narrowest of victories in a nine try game full of incident.

From the outset Warrington were committed to an open game and dominated the first ten minutes with the ball moving freely back and forth along the line with the backs always threatening. However, it was through the forward muscle of first Will Morgan then Ty Hamblett that Warrington first crossed the line. The verdict was “held up “, with a drop-out to Tarleton. To everyone’s surprise, probably not least to the man himself, back-rower Phil Lynch managed to charge the kick down, collect the rebound and touch down between the posts. Adam Whalley converted. 7-0.

Two minutes later Lynch was again in action, picking up from a well presented ball on the ground and cutting through the middle before the ruck could be formed. A thirty metre dash took him deep into Tarleton territory but, with no support imminent, a kick and chase was the sensible option. Unfortunately, the ball went dead.

Tarleton won the resultant scrum, shipped the ball quickly to the centre and with some deft passing and good back up went the length of the pitch for a try. 7-5.

Warrington returned to the attack and a well weighted cross kick from Whalley forced Tarleton into a drop out from behind their line. This was fielded by Harry Kellett, then quickly via Whalley to centre Kyle Cherrett who was not to be stopped from thirty metres out. 12-5.

If the Warrington backs had the upper hand in open play, it was the Tarleton pack who had the edge in the set scrums and with 30 minutes gone the visitors capitalised on this. Although Warrington had thwarted two successive attempts at a push-over try, the Tarleton No 8 picked up from the back of a 5m scrum to cross for their second try. 12-10.

Two minutes later winger Luke Turner notched up Warrington’s third try taking a superb off-load from centre Sam Rehill to cross wide on the right. Whalley converted. 17-10.

It was Tarleton who had the last word in the half, however, taking a quick penalty on the half-way line catching Warrington flat-footed and earning a try under the posts.

HT 17-17

Warrington opened the scoring early in the second half through a Whalley penalty after a break from Turner had taken play into the Tarleton 22. 20-17. Five minutes later a characteristic rampaging run from Josh Downes earned Warrington a bonus point try. Tidying up well at the back of a retreating Warrington scrum, the captain brushed of three would be tacklers taking the ball up to the Tarleton 22 and handing over to the mercurial Archie Kellett who completed the task. Whalley converted. 27-17.

Further chances of scoring then went a begging as Warrington could not secure possession from their own line-out on the Tarleton 5m line, or passing went astray as composure evaporated in attempts to move the ball wide too quickly or to keep it alive at any cost. Another scoring opportunity disappeared when a 50m break from centre Cherrett, taking the burly centre up to the Tarleton 22, found no support.

With twenty minutes to go another penalty quickly taken by Tarleton took them up to the Warrington red zone. Warrington were down to 14 men at this time as Harry Kellett bore the punishment for a plethora of Warrington misdemeanours. Successive forward drives gave Tarleton their fourth try. 27-24.

With less than ten minutes to go Tarleton were again knocking on the Warrington line and although on this occasion Warrington resisted the direct forward drives, a long pass to the wing secured Tarleton’s fifth try. 27-29. As fears that another bitter defeat loomed, a penalty to Warrington offered redemption. This was a long penalty just inside the Tarleton half and Whalley’s attempt was just wide.

Warrington secured the restart and with time desperately short attempted a drop goal which was charged down. In the ensuing scramble to secure the loose ball, Tarleton were penalised and, as they ill-advisedly ventured an opinion to the referee, were marched back a further 10 metres. This put the posts within striking distance, Whalley did not miss and as the linesmen’s flags went up the whistle blew.

FT 30-29

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC