Warrington started in their usual ebullient manner, taking the kick-off cleanly and sending it down the back line. Centre Archie Kellett collected his own trademark chip kick and took play deep into Eccles territory where Warrington were awarded a scrum. From this Warrington’s well-rehearsed looping move earned a try wide on the right for left winger Luke Turner converted by JP Hudson.

From the restart Hudson used the wind to pump the ball back into the Eccles 22 where the ball bounced favourably for Warrington giving the pursuing Kellett a try under the posts easily converted by Hudson. 14-0

Two minutes later Joe Craven extended Warrington’s lead capitalising on a break from full back Will Uttley who glided 50 elusive metres down the right wing before popping the ball inside for the back rower’s try.

With only eleven minutes on the clock Kellett added his second try, collecting an Eccles clearance kick on the Warrington 10m line and shimmying seemingly effortlessly through the defence. He collected another of his well weighted chip kicks before touching down under the posts. Hudson nailed his fourth conversion. 28-0

Ten minutes later fullback Uttley finished off an attack characterised by clever off loads and five minutes after that winger Max Caldwell added his name to the score sheet after prop Harry Kellett had loosened up the defence driving in hard from a short penalty. 38-0

Eccles were rarely in the Warrington half but they could not build on the occasions when they were. Captain and No8 Danny Fleming picked up from the base of one such rare scrum in the Warrington 22 and battled out to the 10m line, where Ryan Newton took up the running. The centre failed to make the last few yards before being brought down but scrum half Oli Hudson was on hand to pick up and complete the score, Hudson kicking the conversion. 45-0

Warrington pinned Eccles back in their own 22 from the restart. Although the visitors won their line-out and opted to run the ball, Warrington’s back division were up fast, forcing errors. Winger Kyle Cherrett picked up a dropped ball and went 5m for the touchdown, Hudson converting for the last action of the first half.

HT 52-0

With such a comfortable cushion, Warrington now seemed to ease of and Eccles took up the offensive. The visitors now began to get and retain possession with play predominantly in the Warrington half where Warrington’s defensive skills were now put to the test. Committed two-man tackling was the norm with wing forward Andy Kellett outstanding but Eccles maintained possession, reaping their rewards when they crossed for their first try ten minutes in.

Warrington’s now developed a proclivity to give away penalties which precluded any periods of sustained pressure. Nevertheless, in a generally scrappier second half Warrington kept the scoreboard moving with tries from middle row Jonny Evans and, with 10 minutes to go, back rower Andy Kellett with a deserved score conversion from Hudson. 64-5

Poor handling from the restart from this try gave Eccles a scrum on the Warrington 5m line. Sustained drives from their pack earned a second try.

FT 64-10

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) O.Hudson *, 10) JP.Hudson *,
11) L.Turner *, 12) Achie Kellett *, 13) R.Newton, 14) M Caldwell *, 15) W.Uttley *

Bench: - 16) S.Bennett *, 17) K.Cherrett, 18) J.Lightfoot *

*Indicates home grown players

Referee: - Neil Everett (Manchester & District Referees Society)

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC

Next game: - Liverpool St Helens v Warrington Saturday 18th April 2026 KO 15:00 (3pm)