A heavy hail shower shortly before kickoff did not help conditions under foot but did nothing to dampen Warrington’s exuberance. They kicked off, but retained possession, and had scored their first try through winger Max Caldwell in the first two minutes, Aspull not having touched the ball. Warrington also dominated the early set piece where their scrum, with the front row of Green, Stewart and Kellett had the heavier home pack retreating. Aspull scrambled the ball away but had no platform to mount any attack. 0-5

Not five minutes into the game, an ankle injury to wing forward Joe Craven then necessitated his replacement by Sam Whalley.

Shortly after, a break by stand-off JP Hudson on half way took play up to the Aspull line but winger Caldwell could not repeat his earlier try scoring feat instead receiving a head injury which saw him replaced by Kyle Cherrett. Warrington continued to exert pressure with a neat chip kick from centre Ryan Newton turning the Aspull defence who then conceded a penalty. Prop Tom Green was unstoppable from 5 metres out, Hudson converting. 0-12

With only fifteen minutes gone scrum half Jack Whittaker, possibly the smallest man on the pitch, racked up Warrington’s third try from close range after the big boys had had a bash. However, Whittaker too had to leave the field with a hand injury as Warrington cleared the subs bench, front row replacement Carl Wilson being called on, necessitating some shuffling of roles. 0-17

Wilson it was, however, who scored Warrington’s bonus point try on the stroke of half time. Capitalising on hard yards earned in quick succession by Morgan, Kellett and Whalley, centre Newton burst through the remaining Aspull defence and fed the ball inside to Wilson who galloped over from 20m out.

HT 0-22

Aspull restarted the game with determination taking their own ball on Warrington’s 10m line and driving deep into Warrington territory. Warrington ultimately defended too narrowly giving Aspull a two-man overlap and their first try. In the process centre Tom McEniff also received a severe knock and had to leave the pitch. Although still nursing a damaged hand Whittaker returned to the scene of carnage. 5-22

This early score was a good tonic for Aspull but from the restart Wilson helped to dampen their spirits with his second try, again latching on to an inside pass from the irrepressible Newton. 5-27

Aspull’s spirits were not to be dampened so easily, however, and ten minutes later they scored a second try through determined drives from the pack. 12-27

Warrington’s composure now seemed to fray resulting in more penalties, enhanced by 10m on two occasions for some unnecessary comments. Although now playing with a stiff breeze at their back, Warrington made little use of the wind. The one occasion they did use it; the ball went dead from a kick within their own 22 resulting in a scrum back. Warrington thus found themselves defending in their own half with an increasingly determined opposition. A yellow card to wing forward Andy Kellett and an Aspull rolling maul, just held up over the line, upped the pressure.

More pressure came with ten minutes to go when the Aspull full back collected one of Warrington’s exit kicks unchallenged, ran the ball back to his forwards who proceeded through the phases to score. 19-27

The last ten minutes were played for the most part in Aspull territory with the home team reluctant to gain yards through kicking. Warrington’s defence though weakened by changes enforced by the numerous injuries was enough to contain the opposition but Warrington, supporters and players alike, heaved a sigh of relief at the final whistle.

FT 19-27

Team:-
1) T.Green *, 2) A.Stewart *, 3) Harry Kellett *, 4) W.Morgan *, 5) J.Evans *,
6) Andy Kellett *, 7) J.Craven *, 8) D.Fleming (c) *, 9) J.Whittaker *, 10) JP.Hudson *,
11) J.Lightfoot *, 12) R.Newton, 13) T.McEniff *, 14) M Caldwell *, 15) W.Uttley *

Bench:- 16) K.Cherrett, 17) S.Whalley *, 18) C.Wilson

*Indicates home grown players

Referee:- Jack Fairweather ( Manchester & District Referees Society)

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC

Next game:- Warrington v Eccles Saturday 11th April 2026 KO 15:00 (3pm)