Saving the best for last (From Warrington Guardian)

Saving the best for last

Warrington RUFC 19

Wilmslow RUFC 11

WARRINGTON saved their best performance of the season until the last game of 2004 when they soundly toppled league leaders Wilmslow.

By putting together some superb attacking rugby in the first half and then tenaciously defending their lead throughout a seemingly endless second half, the home side ensured that they and their supporters could enter the festive season in a suitably festive spirit.

Warrington made a bright start to the Rugby Football Union South Lancashire/Cheshire One game and they took an early lead with two Andy James penalties.

Wilmslow came back into contention with an unconverted try.

Ten minutes later, Warrington scored the try of the match when excellent interplay between forwards and backs enabled West to gain valuable ground. He shipped the ball on to his co-centre Dave Harthill, who created the space for his winger Kevin Jones to touch down.

Warrington were now playing with a confidence not seen for some months, specially in the backs where Mark Tickle had an excellent game and James exercised total control with an educated use of the boot.

This confidence soon brought further reward when Jones intercepted inside the Wilmslow half and outpaced the covering defence to touch down.

Shortly afterwards, a West break almost resulted in a third try but the centre was cut down a yard short of the line.

Eventually, it was left to James to complete the first half scoring with another fine penalty.

Wilmslow recovered their composure in the second half.

They put Warrington under constant pressure, particularly in the line-outs, but the home side defended manfully to prevent Wilmslow from crossing their try line.

In an outstanding game, special mention must go to Tom Derbyshire on his debut start for the first team and to Eddie Fields, a back row forward who was superb out of position on the wing.

North Manchester 28

Warrington 3rds 18

IRONICALLY, on a day when Warrington's first team achieved their best win of the season the club's standard bearers - Tom Wray's third team - suffered only their second defeat of the campaign at North Manchester.

Against a side which are probably too strong for the league they are in, Warrington performed heroically to restrict North Manchester to 14-12 at half-time.

However, the opposition took control of proceedings in the second half.

Warrington's points came via McDermott and Kerai tries plus three McDermott goals.