St Benedicts 8 Warrington 17

It was perhaps fitting that Warrington’s visit to St Benedicts should take place on Armistice Day, as the playing surface was somewhat reminiscent of the Somme and the match itself evolved into a battle of attrition, which was physical and, sometimes, brutal. Fortunately, Warrington’s two first half converted tries and a Ben Hockenhull penalty proved sufficient to allow a stalwart second half defence to earn a well-deserved victory.

The home side set out their uncompromising style from the kick-off but it was Warrington who exerted the early pressure. Persistent Benedict’s offside at breakdowns were eventually penalized with a sin-binning of a player and shortly afterwards Ben Hockenhull exploited the pressure with a well-stuck penalty.

Warrington then forced a set scrum five yards out on the right and the ball was swiftly transferred to the backs. Nathan Beasley left his right wing to join the line in mid-field and took an exquisite line to score. Ben Hockenhull converted.

The visitors were denied a second try when Tom Arnold was given the ball thirty yards out with an open field in front of him but the pass was adjudged forward much to the disbelief of the Warrington supporters and the touch judge.

However, the second try eventually came when Josh Downes broke through tackles like a raging bull and Jack Morgan was on his shoulder to take the pass and touch down. Again, Ben Hockenhull converted.

Benedicts then started to exert their own pressure and were unlucky not to score when they showed slick hands across the field, only for the final pass to be thrown directly into touch. At this point the game erupted into a couple of minor skirmishes but Warrington showed coolness under fire. Benedicts forced a set scrum after one such fracas and fed their powerful right winger, who showed both pace and strength to score in the corner and make the half time score 17-5.

Perhaps the highlight of the second half was the introduction of Colts skipper, Harry Kellet making an excellent first team debut, as the game developed into trench warfare as both side sides became bogged down in the morass. But once again, the Warrington defence, superbly led by captain Sean Hughes, deservedly voted man-of-the match by the opposition, was magnificent. They denied Benedicts any further tries, restricting them to a single penalty.

“Sometime you have to win ugly,” said coach Jon Callendar. “And this was such a game. The lads showed great character in refusing to be intimidated or bullied, while showing clinical finishing in the first half. And, as Northwich lost to Wilmslow, we have now moved to third in the league. We have a rest next Saturday before we face second-placed Stockport, at home, on the 25th November. Who knows, we could even move up to second!”