Warrington 42 Blackburn 15

WARRINGTON produced possibly their best rugby of the season to ensure the four-try bonus point was achieved before the interval.

Although they took their collective foot off the gas in the second period to leak two tries to an off-colour Blackburn outfit, they still managed to cross the line twice again to notch up their highest points total this term.

The victory, which included a brace of tries from winger Max Caldwell, leaves Warrington eighth in North West One.

“We really did discover our true form in the first half and I doubt whether any other side in the league could have competed for those 40 minutes,” said coach Andy Roberts.

“It would seem that our league position is now safe but we still have four games to play, beginning with a hard 'derby' at Leigh on March 25. Hopefully, we can finish our season in style.”

Although Warrington went 3-0 behind they responded with four tries – and a few more close calls – before the break.

Warrington were unlucky when a knock-on prevented a certain try following a pin-point kick to the corner from Tom Wood.

After Paul Thompson took the first of his three strikes against the head, and following Phil Lynch breaking round the front of a line-out, quickly recycled ball led to slick handling for winger Caldwell to demonstrate his finishing prowess.

Five minutes later, Warrington wrong-footed the opposition with another strike against the head and full-back Pat Roberts’ well-judged punt was picked up by Caldwell and the dancing winger crossed for his second try.

Another Warrington try went begging when the final pass went astray but Luke Johnstone took full advantage of a third strike against the head to make good ground in the middle of the field before handing on to Josh Downes, who found Tom Green in support and the mobile prop screamed over from ten yards, even remembering to make the conversion easier by cutting into the posts.

Quick ball then allowed Wood to demonstrate his finely-tuned show-and-go and glide over, with Luke Gilooly converting.

A drop-off in concentration saw Blackburn reduce the Warrington lead to 12 points but Warrington recovered their focus.

From a scrum at halfway, Wood flashed a beautiful pass to Gilooly, who finished off from 30 yards.

A Gilooly penalty was followed by a glorious individual converted effort from Tom Arnold.