Warrington returned to winning was after last week’s setback against rivals Broughton Park with this hard fought win against a committed and skilful 3rd place West Park.Warrington still remain top of the South Lanc/Cheshire Division 1 league and now need to win all 3 remaining games to be crowned Champions.
Warrington got off to a flying start after 4 minutes when, from a line out close to the West park line, Zak Lythgoe used all his bulk, power and guile to drive over. Tom Wood converted from wide out and Warrington led 7-0.
West Park converted a penalty 3 minutes later and then put Warrington under constant pressure being rewarded with a try wide out on the 23 minute mark. The conversion was missed . After the Warrington forwards gained good position in the opposition half, Tom Wood kicked a penalty on 28 minutes and with no further score in the first half, Warrington turned round 10-8 in the lead.
The league leaders started the second half in flamboyant style and moved the ball from one wing to the other and back again before Kevin Jones touched down. The conversion attempt was wide. Warrington then enjoyed their best spell of the match and, on 60 minutes, Tom Wood drove over from close range but, once again, was unable to add the extras.
Unfortunately a sudden attack of Warington narcolepsy allowed the home side to make an immediate response and they scored an unconverted try in the corner.
Warrington again pressed for the bonus point try but were unsuccessful until a penalty in the 79th minute in the West Park 22. Coach Riley was calling for a drive from a lineout but his players chose to take a quick tap penalty. Quick ball from the forwards saw the coach eat his words as Keiran Hughes darted over. The conversion was again missed but it was of no consequence with the final score Warrington 25 West Park 13.
Prominent for Warrington was Tom Wood with his trademark sniping and probing runs. In the forward Zak Lythgoe, Ashley Rockey and Graham Prytherch were noticeable for a number of powerful surging runs.
”As I said last week, a good team does not become a bad one overnight,” commented coach Steve Riley. “However there is still much room for improvement if we are to return to our standards of earlier in the season. We will certainly need to recover this form to overcome next week’s opponents Crewe, at Walton Lea, as they gave Warrington a hard time in the away fixture in November.”