With their usual panache, Warrington entertained a large crowd in the last league game of the season, securing promotion to North West Regional 2 League with an eight try haul against third placed Didsbury. Although coming second in the table to Wilmslow, Warrington qualified for promotion coming 4th of the top five best runners up in Counties 1 leagues in the country.

On a beautiful, calm spring day, with conditions perfect for Warrington’s brand of running rugby, captain Danny Fleming got the scoreboard moving in the first two minutes. Second row Harry Kellett laid down his marker bulldozing into hard places but laying the ball back cleanly. Brother Archie at centre then took a more scalpel like approach to open the defence for Fleming’s try. Conversion by JP Hudson. 7-0

Ten minutes in, winger Luke Turner, took a well-timed pass from rumbustious centre Ryan Newton and turned on the gas for Warrington’s second wide on the left. 12-0

Five minutes later a powerful finish by Newton himself rounded off an intricate rehearsed move for Warrington’s third converted by Hudson. 19-0

Warrington continued to dominate possession and though Toc H made some lengthy exit kicks this was often too little advantage against Warrington’s mercurial back division. Archie Kellet collected one such kick just outside his 22, dazzled his way down the touch to linkup with the equally elusive Tom McEniff who touched down in the corner, Hudson converted from wide out. 26-0

A good restart from Toc H earned them a line-out deep in the Warrington 22 from which they then manufactured a push over try. 26-5

With five minutes remaining in the half Warrington replied with their own 5m line out. Prop Tom Green battled his way forward but the ball popped out of his grasp, fortunately backwards, only to be snapped up by second row Will Morgan who touched down in the corner, Hudson converting. 33-5

Winger Kyle Cherrett added Warrington’s sixth try in the same corner on the stroke of half time.

HT 38-5

Five minutes into the second half, standoff Hudson and centre Kellett put together a good combination to put the latter over between the posts, Hudson converting. 45-5

The visitors then managed a period of pressure, keeping Warrington pinned in their own 22 through a series of short drives from their pack. Warrington defended well initially but eventually conceded a penalty from which TocH scored their second try. 45-12

Twenty-five minutes into the half, No 8 Fleming picked up from the base of scrum some forty metres out and fed scrum half Jack Whittaker on his elbow. Whittaker’s pass to McEniff put the winger in for his second try, Warrington’s eighth and the club’s all-time points scoring record for a season.

Hudson increased the total with a penalty from in front of the posts just five minutes later, but TocH had the last word with a push over try from a 5m line-out with two minutes to go.

FT 53-19

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

Bench: - 16) K.Cherrett, 17) J.Baker *, 18) F.Hartill *

*Indicates home grown players

Referee: - Nathaniel Mountain (Manchester & District Referees Society)

Next game: -

Warrington’s 2nd XV also completed a highly successful season with a 21-31 win over Bury 2nd XV coming top in NOWIRUL Rainford Electrical Services Division 3 North/Central which means they too will be promoted to a Division 2 in Impact Rugby North West (NOWIRUL) Leagues.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC