Although Warrington were victors in this top of the table clash, the game was a lot closer than the margin suggests, at least until the second half when Warrington hit a purple patch.

J P Hudson opened the scoring in the first five minutes with a long penalty from wide on the right and notched another, easier one, two minutes later from straight in front from the 22. 6-0. A more pragmatic approach to the game in the early stages had stand-off Beeley kicking more for territory than opening up play. The first reversion to running rugby, however, nearly brought dividends as smooth passing got the ball to winger Jamie Hartill who threaded a neat grubber kick into the Wigan in-goal area where the visitors full back just managed to beat Warrington to the touchdown.

Warrington’s next foray at open rugby was less successful as Wigan intercepted on their 10m line and sprinted for a try under the posts. 6-7.

Two more penalty attempts from Warrington were unsuccessful, but Warrington were beginning to have the edge with rampaging runs from Craven, Whalley and Cherrett in particular being hard to stop. However, Wigan stretched their lead with a penalty in the twentieth minute when Warrington were penalised for a high tackle on their 22. 6-10.

Ten minutes later the roles were reversed when Wigan were likewise penalised in their attempts to stop the rumbustious Whalley. This gave Warrington a line-out 15 m from the Wigan line and after six phases of pick and drive from the forwards, middle-rower Johnnie Evans earned the rewards.

Just before half-time, Wigan transgressed again in trying to stop a determined Harry Kellett who had taken the ball into their 22 and Hudson made no mistake with the conversion. 14-10 at the interval.

HT 14-10

Warrington then hit their purple patch with three tries in quick succession. The first was a penalty try awarded to JP Hudson when he was tackled early as an interchange with winger McEniff was on course to bring a legitimate try. Wigan also received a yellow card for this piece of chicanery. 21-10.

The second was a collective effort from the pack who drove over under the posts with prop Sam Bennett in control of the ball. The third was what is becoming a frequent occurrence from the Beeley/McEniff duo with the former producing an inch-perfect cross kick for the latter whose speed and evasiveness earned the try . Conversions by Hudson gave Warrington a 25-point lead with twenty minutes to go. 35-10.

Wigan were by no means out of the game, however, as a slick movement from their back division demonstrated, taking them from try line to try line with ten minutes on the clock. After conceding two penalties in resisting Wigan’s forward drive, Warrington finally conceded a second try. 35-15.

In the closing minutes of the game, Hudson added a fourth penalty, which took his personal total on the day to 23, but Wigan had the last word with a third try in the last play of the game.

FT 38-22.

This was a steadier performance from Warrington with their usual flair still in evidence but without the devil may care approach deployed in running the ball from less propitious starting points!

The bonus point victory leaves Warrington third in the table but promises an exciting end to the season with Wigan, Littleborough, Warrington and Southport all in contention.

Referee was Jack Fairweather - Manchester & District Referees Society

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC