WILMSLOW 59 - 5 WARRINGTON

Although a 9 to 1 try difference may suggest one-way traffic, this was by no means the case as both teams applied themselves to open rugby in an entertaining but, for Warrington at least, frustrating game.

Wilmslow opened the scoring early, countering quickly from a Warrington clearance kick which did not go to touch and benefiting from uncharacteristically loose Warrington tackling. Warrington’s back division, while continuing to lack continuity in selection, showed no lack of enterprise in execution. Indeed, it was perhaps an excess of enterprise, if not downright recklessness, which was their undoing on a number of occasions. With Warrington trying to move the ball quickly wide, a last pass to winger Ryan Eastwood went astray and was fly hacked downfield to give Wilmslow good field position in Warrington’s 22. Although Jack Barker delivered line-out possession, Wilmslow maintained pressure and eventually muscled their way over under the posts.

An interception in their own half earned Wilmslow a third try as they were up quick and read the Warrington move. Warrington managed to gain ground off-loading well among the forwards but often the pass would be forced and possession lost, leaving them vulnerable. Wilmslow’s willingness and ability to counter quickly earned their fourth try. A fifth try followed straight from the restart.

The next restart did not go ten metres and from the resultant scrum Wilmslow hoisted a high kick into the corner, forcing the Warrington defence to scramble back. Although jack of all trades Jack Rigby at full back tried to claim the ball, Wilmslow arrived in force and scored again.

With half time approaching, a neat off load from Sam Bennett put flyer Luke Turner away. The winger was brought down on the Wilmslow 22 but Warrington were awarded a penalty and opted to kick for the corner. Although the line-out did not go to hand, an alert Phil Lynch snapped up the loose ball and strode over for Warrington’s try.

HT 40-5

Warrington hit their purple patch in the third quarter, with hard yards being made in the middle of the field notably by Jack Barker and Danny Fleming, with good contributions from Carr and Kellett. Unfortunately, most of the yards gained were in between the 22s so the Wilmslow line was rarely threatened.

When Wilmslow attacked, good exit kicking from Ben Dixon eased the pressure, but eventually the more cohesive team work from the home side brought dividends despite heroic commitment in defence from Warrington. Wilmslow scored three more tries in the last quarter, the third from an interception as Warrington attacked.

FT 59-5

The referee Stephen Snoddy was doing his 1000th game so a great thank you to him for his years of service and enabling games to be played, without people like him Rugby would not survive at grassroots level.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC