Blackburn 18 Warrington 28

AHEAD of their first home game of the season, Warrington ensured they will return to Walton Lea with their tails up.

Saturday’s win at Blackburn was their second in succession and brings a run of four straight away games to an end.

They had to survive a late comeback from the hosts but were deserving of their victory, with Kieron Hughes’ second-half try earning them a bonus point.

Jamie Thompson, Tom Arnold and Max Caldwell had earlier crossed for Andy Roberts’ side, with Ben Hockenhull adding a conversion and two penalties with the boot.

Both sides struggled to establish dominance early on, but Warrington’s scrum was rock solid to prevent the hosts from posting points.

Having struggled with their lineout for much of the early going, their fortunes on that score turned around when they won possession and good rucking saw the ball flashed across the field for Thompson, who joined the line from full-back and dummied his way over.

Blackburn cut the visitors’ lead with a penalty, but Hockenhull replied with one of his own to re-establish Warrington’s seven-point advantage.

The lead grew by five points shortly after when Hughes, Thompson and Tom Wood were involved in a nice move that sent Arnold over to give them a 15-3 half-time advantage.

Caldwell added his name to the scoresheet shortly after the break as he was allowed to cross unmarked on the right wing following a 10-metre scrum.

Hockenhull added another penalty, but the hosts’ strong scrum told when the pack drove over for their first try of the afternoon.

However, Warrington were soon back in the scoring grove when Arnold burst through before kicking ahead and Hughes won the race to touch down.

Blackburn suddenly woke up and produced a frantic finish by scoring two tries in the final seven minutes, but Warrington held out for a well-earned victory.

Roberts’ side now sit seventh in the North One West table after collecting 10 points from their opening four games.

Manchester, the team directly below them, will be the first side to visit Walton Lea this season on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Warrington 2nd 21 Burnage 2nd 51

WARRINGTON’S seconds crashed to a heavy defeat to their Burnage counterparts, but skipper Shaun Yoxhall still commended his side’s efforts.

Ben Dixon produced a superb individual display as he crossed for two tries and kicked three conversions.

Nick Pennington crossed for Warrington’s other try, but Burnage’s pace in the backs division was too much for the hosts.

However, Yoxhall said his side’s defence “never surrendered” in the face of pressure.

“We were really up against it today,” he said.

“However, our defence never surrendered and we scored some cracking tries.”

Yoxhall’s side visit Blackburn’s seconds on Saturday, kick off 3pm.