WARRINGTON 22 - 37 WEST PARK

The visitors opened the scoring in the first five minutes with an easy penalty when Warrington were pinged for offside in their 22. 0-3. Warrington responded in kind with a Whalley conversion just five minutes later when West Park were penalised in their 22 on the end of a good combination from second rower Downes, stand-off Whalley and centre Hudson. 3-3.

Whalley edged Warrington into the lead with another penalty from the West Park 22, territory gained by strong running from Downes again ably abetted by the duo of Bennetts at prop, but West Park equalised almost immediately with their second penalty. 6-6.

With the inventive Whalley orchestrating the attacks, Warrington’s back division always looked threatening and, in the twentieth minute, a try looked on for centre Hudson but he was dispossessed just 3 metres from the line. Two minutes later, however, Warrington chalked up their first try through rumbustuous centre Kyle Cherrett as he finished off a break by back row Evans carried on by Sam Bennett. 11-6.

From the restart Warrington were slow to secure the ball and an attempted exit kick was charged down, giving possession to West Park and, after a few phases, their first try. 11-11.

Excellent kicking from Whalley forced a 5m line-out and though Warrington could not secure possession from the West Park throw in, they did manage a 5m scrum. No8 Danny Fleming picked up but was held up over the line. Warrington went back on the offensive from the try-line drop out and an inch-perfect cross kick from Whalley to the arms of winger Kevin McCombie kept the pressure on West Park. Another 5m line-out was cleanly taken by Will Morgan and deft hands via Evans gave Sam Bennett a try round the front of the line-out. 16-11.

A few minutes later West Park gained a 5m line out when Warrington were penalised for going off their feet at the tackle and mauled the ball over for an equalising try. 16-16.

With half-time approaching, Downes made a characteristic break on the left, feeding Ryan Eastwood but the winger was brought down just short. Whalley added another penalty on the stroke of half-time to give Warrington a narrow lead at the interval. 19-16.

HT 19-16

Whalley opened the second half proceedings as he had closed the first but this was to be Warrington’s only score in the second half. 22-16.West Park, now playing with a slight but influential breeze at their back, pinned Warrington deep in the corner from which they rarely escaped. A succession of 5m line-outs were contained with Warrington opting not to contest the ball in the air but to resist the subsequent driving mauls.

This tactic was successful for a considerable time but could not work forever and with twenty minutes to go West Park found their way over benefitting from the absence of Morgan who had found himself the recipient of a yellow card for the teams cumulative penalties in the red zone. 22-23.

West Park continued to dominate territory and with ten minutes to go sliced through the mid field with well-timed passing to score under the posts. 22-30. With time running out Warrington were again reduced to 14 men as Downs got his marching orders for a late tackle and West Park ran in their fifth try. 22-37.

The first half of nip and tuck, but with West Park playing catch up, gave promise of an equally exciting second. Unfortunately, it was Warrington, latterly unable to secure or retain much possession, who ended playing catch up and with it the poor discipline which that position so often engenders.

FT 22-37

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC