Warrington started in blistering fashion. A pick up from the back of a scrum by captain Josh Downes followed by good interplay between scrum half Ollie Hudson and brother JP at centre took the attack up to Tarleton’s 22. Speedy recycling saw the ball moved back and forth across the back line before centre Jack Stride touched down out wide on the left. 0-5 up with less than 5 minutes gone.

Tarleton nearly equalised 5 minutes later but tenacious Warrington defence forced a knock-on instead of a touch down. A courageous drop on the ball by stand-off Matt Beeley thwarted another dangerous attack a few minutes later.

Warrington had an opportunity with a long penalty in the 20th minute which went wide but a coruscating attack from the restart was much more fruitful. Cleanly taking the ball JP Hudson fed full back Joe Taylor deep in Warrington territory. Stepping on his considerable supplies of gas and using a deft hand-off, Taylor in turn fed Stride, then to back-rower Stevens and finally to prop Tom Green for the touchdown. 0-10.

Warrington now began to dominate the set scrums winning against the head and putting Tarleton into serious reverse. Unfortunately, the attacks which were mounted from these turnovers and which were potential try makers foundered on forward passes.

In the 30th minute Matt Beeley stretched Warrington’s lead with a fine individual effort from the half way line, winger Rigby acting as disconcerting alternative for the Tarleton defence. JP Hudson converted from in front of the posts. 0-17

A push over try by the Warrington pack secured by captain Josh Downes gave Warrington their fourth try and bonus point Hudson converted but Tarleton pulled one back just before the interval manufacturing an overlap on the their right. 7-24

HT 7-24

Whether from complacency with the comfortable lead or the result of a two week lay-off, Warrington began to lose the upper hand. Tarleton added a penalty and then a try through their forwards. 15-24 A blistering run from Joe Taylor given space by good interplay from Downes and Pat Reardon now at scrum-half, saw him run round to score under the posts Hudson added the conversion to restore some of Warrington’s cushion but with 15 minutes to go Tarleton slotted another penalty. 18-31

With 10 minutes to go Warrington were reduced to 14 men when Hudson earned a yellow card for a tackle in the air and matters got more fraught with 5 minutes to go when Tarleton picked up an overthrow from a line-out and went over for their third try. 25-31
Fortunately, Warrington earned a penalty in Tarleton’s 22 which Beeley converted to seal the game.

FT 25-34

Coach Beeley said “We almost let this game slip and were particularly vulnerable to Tarleton’s counter rucking. I am, however, happy with the big improvements the squad has made over the year and feel we can improve still further next season whether in this league or wherever any league restructuring may take us.”

See you next season if not before.

All the best over summer

Roy Potts WRUFC