First Half

Preston kicked off deep into Warrington territory, and for the opening ten minutes the action rarely left that end of the field. Both sides exchanged possession repeatedly, but a combination of strong breakdown work, fierce tackling and forced and unforced handling errors prevented either team from taking advantage.

The deadlock finally broke in Preston’s favour, and in a manner Warrington would unfortunately go on to repeat more than once. Winning a lineout inside their own half, Warrington secured the ball cleanly and moved it away from the set-piece. Instead of exiting, the ball was played through the hands but spilled. Preston pounced on the loose possession, applied pressure through several tight phases, and eventually powered their way over the line for the first try of the day, the conversion was missed, 0 - 5

What followed was another 15 minutes of bruising, absorbing rugby, with neither team able to build sustained pressure. Defensive sets dominated, and any promising attack was halted by a turnover or knock-on. An injury in the Warrington ranks then forced some reorganisation, but the alteration quickly paid off. With possession close to their own 22, the ball found Dexter Spurling (Sponsored by The Emerald Crew) —now shifted from number 8 into the centres—who produced one of his trademark weaving runs. Slipping tackles and cutting a slalom route through defenders, he raced clear to score under the posts, Will Reynolds (Sponsored by Just Builders (NW) Ltd) kicked the conversion, 7 – 5

As the half approached its end, both teams were repeatedly bundled into touch by relentless defensive efforts. With their final meaningful attack before the whistle, Preston struck again. Despite the conditions, they showed confidence and ambition by moving the ball quickly wide. The risk was rewarded, and they crossed in the corner to take a narrow lead into half-time, conversion was missed, 7 - 10

Half-Time Score: Warrington 7 - Preston 10

Second Half
The second half continued in the same uncompromising vein—full-blooded collisions, high defensive work-rate and limited attacking fluency. Neither side found much momentum as phase play broke down frequently in the sticky conditions.

It took 12 minutes for the next breakthrough, and again it belonged to Preston. Warrington, once more trying to exit from a defensive lineout inside their 22, saw their maul disrupted superbly by Preston. The ball was spilled, snapped up by the opposition, and after multiple phases of pressure, the defensive line finally ran out of numbers. Preston shifted the ball wide and finished clinically, conversion was missed, 7 - 15.

Warrington attempted to impose their running game, but the execution remained just off. Attacks broke down either through spills or via Preston’s outstanding jackal work, which repeatedly turned over isolated carriers. One such turnover allowed Preston to launch a well-judged defensive kick into Warrington’s 22. From the resulting lineout, Warrington again failed to secure clean ball, dropping it again. Preston regained possession, and although Warrington’s defence held firm through several phases, the strain left their line narrow. A slick handling sequence exploited the overlap, and Preston scored again in the corner, conversion was kicked 7 - 22.

There was still time for one more bit of action. A Warrington turnover, finally allowed them to string together phases and move the ball with width. An inside offload released Seth Phillipson (Sponsored by BCR Service Ltd), who kicked ahead and looked set to win the race to the ball before being tackled early, the referee rightly awarded a penalty try, 14 - 22.

Full-Time Summary

Preston emerged deserved winners. Their accuracy in shifting the ball wide at key moments, disciplined defence and excellent disruption of Warrington’s set piece proved decisive. Warrington, meanwhile, will reflect on costly handling errors and difficulties securing clean ball inside their own 22—issues that prevented them from capitalising on their defensive heroics and attacking intent.

Both teams, however, advance to home quarter-finals, and given the intensity and quality on display despite the conditions, a rematch later in the tournament would be eagerly anticipated.

Man of the Match deservedly went to Dexter Spurling (Sponsored by The Emerald Crew), played in the forwards and the backs, scored a try and put in some fantastic tackles all over the field, a real inspiration to his teammates on the day.