A belated start to the New Year but what a start! Surely the zenith and nadir of scores respectively for two clubs with more than 250 years of rugby between them.

As the score line suggests, the one-way traffic started early with centre Archie Kellett finishing a succession of phases within the first minute with Warrington’s first of eighteen tries. Four minutes later hooker Alex Stewart was on the scoreboard, just, having previously ignored the easier option of the pass to winger Cherrett.

Tries came with regularity through Tom McEniff, the first of three, Joe Craven, the first of four, and Ryan Newton the first of two. In the twenty fifth minute, winger Luke Turner scooped up a perfectly weighted cross kick from stand-off JP Hudson to register his first, and Warrington’s sixth try.

New Brighton had very little possession but then briefly entered the Warrington 22 through a succession of short drives through their forwards. Unfortunately for them, this ended badly as full back McEniff latched on to an interception 10m from the Warrington line and went the length of the pitch for his second try.

In the thirtieth minute the game saw its first scrum, an indication of the type of game Warrington wanted to play and their ability to do so. There were few more scrums in the game but even here, honours were even though the New Brighton pack considerably outweighed the home team. Line-outs too were few and far between. This seemed to be a tactical mistake on New Brighton’s part as their standoff had a powerful boot but was unable, or chose not to, put the ball in touch when they might have gained some territorial advantage. As it was, Warrington was able to field the ball, and counter with a speed and elusiveness which often led directly to a try.

Half time came at 66-0 and for the first ten minutes of the second half New Brighton kept possession though made little headway against Warrington’s defence. Prop Sam Bennett returned Warrington to scoring ways after fifteen minutes barging over from two metres out. Also adding their name to the scoreboard in the second half were second row Jonny Evans, stand-off JP Hudson, scrum half Jack Whittaker and second row Harry Kellett, returning to the fray after a lay off.

Kicker JP Hudson had a field day converting sixteen out of eighteen attempts, no doubt aided by the fact that many of the tries were scored under the posts and there was no pressure from the score line.

This overwhelming win is tribute to Warrington’s entertaining style of play; ball in hand, numerous support runners, quick recycling from the breakdown, committed two-man tackling in defence and overall organisation.

FT 122-0

Team:-
1) T.Green, 2) A.Stewart, 3) S.Bennett, 4) W.Morgan, 5) J.Evans, 6) Andy Kellett,
7) J.Craven, 8) D.Fleming (c), 9) J.Whittaker, 10) JP Hudson, 11) L.Turner, 12) Archie.Kellett,
13) R.Newton, 14) K.Sherrett, 15) T.McEniff

Bench:- 16) H.Kellett, 17) J.Barker, 18) J.Lightfoot

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC

Next game: - Tarleton v Warrington on 24th January 2026 KO 2:15p