Warrington 29 Rochdale 19
CONFIDENCE is high in the Warrington camp ahead of their trip to Wilmslow on Saturday, head coach Andy Roberts says.
Despite trailing to lowly Rochdale at half time, the hosts hit back to record back-to-back victories.
Kieran Hughes scored twice for Roberts’ side at Walton Lea Road, with James Jones and Christian White also adding their names to the scoresheet.
“This was a harder game than the final score reflects, but it was good to get a four-try bonus point,” Roberts said.
“It was also good to give some of our talented colts some game time.
“Next week, we go to Wilmslow and confidence is high.”
Rochdale went ahead early with a converted try, but Hughes hit back after supporting Josh Downes’ emphatic run to level the scores.
Both sides were keen to attack and it was the visitors who found the next score to take a 14-7 lead into the interval.
In the second period, however, Warrington found their groove.
The forwards went through the phases to create an opportunity for Jones to bustle over for his first Warrington try.
White then sprinted home from 30 yards out to edge the hosts in front for the first time, with Ben Hockenhull converting before adding a penalty to give them a 22-14 advantage.
That lead was then increased when Hughes backed up another break, this time from Steve Pilkington, to double his tally and it was enough to secure the win despite Rochdale scoring the game’s final try.
Warrington 2nd 23 Kendal 2nd 32
DESPITE an encouraging performance, Warrington’s second string were edged out by a Kendal side who had won their previous 10 games.
Three Darren Norman penalties gave them an early lead, but the visitors ran in three quickfire tries while Dan Griffiths was in the sin bin for Warrington.
However, Griffiths scored on his return to the pitch before Matt Rockey also crossed, with Norman converting on both occasions to put the hosts just one point behind at the break.
The teams exchanged penalties in the second half before Kendal pulled clear late on.
Warrington u14 59 LSH u14 7
JUDE Lightfoot, Rorio Zheng and Charlie Bancroft all scored twice in a dominant victory for Warrington’s under 14s over their Liverpool St Helens counterparts.
Christian Johnson and Joe Malley were the other Warrington players to notch tries, while Leo Zheng, Jude Smith and Owen Hemmings kicked conversions.
Rorio Zheng scored twice for Warrington under 14s
Leo Zheng looks to create an opportunity
Jude Smith with a conversion attempt
Joe Malley was also a Warrington try-scorer
Skipper Riley Surplice prepares to pack down the scrum
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