Leigh 2nd 31 Warrington 2nd 30

CONCEDING three first-half tries gave an under-strength Warrington second team too much of a mountain to climb.

They eventually lost by a single point to a strongly-reinforced Leigh outfit, after recovering from being 24-8 behind.

Fielding eight colts, Warrington took time to find any kind of cohesion, although they opened the scoring when new full back Anton Sicker entered the line and outpaced the defence to touch down in the corner.

The lead was soon increased to eight points with a penalty from Andy Almond.

Leigh then started to exploit their physical advantages and the talents of their nippy full back, to score three tries, two of which were converted, to make the half time score 19-8.

The home side added to their total virtually from the restart but Warrington then started to show some physicality of their own and the awesome strength of Max Walker saw him cross twice under the posts, to allow simple conversions and bring his side within two points of Leigh.

Stalwart Paul Grant, playing his last game for the club, nearly reclaimed the lead for Warrington with a side-stepping run of 40 yards but the fairy tale ending wasn’t to be as he was pulled down five yards short of the try line.

However, 17-year-old Jack Grey, in his first game at this level, showed the veteran prop how to finish with a brilliant 80-yard solo effort.

Unfortunately, the lead changed again, when Leigh punched through some poor Warrington tackling to take the score to 31-27.

Warrington were awarded a penalty 15 yards out with just six minutes to play.

They elected to kick the goal but they were unable to add further to their total and the sides finished separated by one point.

“With so many players new to the side, we took too long to settle and adjust to pace of the game,” said skipper Andy Almond.

“However, we came back well, although it would have been nice for Paul Grant to have touched down in his last game.”