Union team buoyed by comeback (From Warrington Guardian)

Union team buoyed by comeback

Trafford MV 36

Warrington 38

WARRINGTON Rugby Union Club go into the start of their new league campaign feeling boosted by an amazing comeback at the weekend.

Warrington's emergent first team, who travel to Leigh in Euromanx South Lancashire Cheshire One on Saturday, recovered from being 31 points behind with 18 minutes to go to win their Lancashire Trophy tie at Trafford with the last kick of the game.

The fact that they are going forward into the next round - and into the Lancashire Cup - is both a testimony to their fitness and to their unwavering self-belief.

Two-thirds of the game belonged totally to Trafford. They had a superior, heavier and more experienced pack and, as a result, Warrington were starved of the ball.

Trafford turned round 19-0 ahead and maintained their dominance with two second-half tries coming as a result of Warrington mistakes.

West crossed for Warrington following a good break from Hopwood but Trafford replied almost immediately to move into a 36-5 lead.

What happened next, starting with Graham scoring one of his signature rolling-maul tries, will surely become the stuff of myth and legend at Walton Lea.

Virtually from the restart Shaw kicked ahead and Whetton put enough pressure on the opposing winger to allow skipper Wheatley to pick up and feed substitute Kerai, who touched down.

Warrington's teenage backs, orchestrated by substitute Duncan Rickard, started to demonstrate their considerable skills and they soon showed that there is no substitute for pace, especially when it is used against aging, tired legs. An exciting length-of-the-field effort resulted in Ryan Mullen scorching in.

The pack then started to join in the entertainment and they turned a Trafford scrum to provide good ball, which suddenly saw Mullen streaking out of nowhere to score his second try.

With a five-point gap and the referee expected to blow time at any moment, Warrington were awarded a penalty in their own 22 and in the very last move of the match the whole back line swept majestically up field, where Rickard touched down. Matt Rockie converted his fourth kick of the afternoon to seal the result.

* On Saturday, Lymm Rugby Club start their new term in Powergen North West Two at home to Vale of Lune, kick-off 3pm, while Moore travel to Old Salians in South Lancashire Cheshire Three.