Warrington start year with nine-try win over Wigton

WARRINGTON put their disappointing finish to 2014 firmly behind them with a nine-try victory over botom side Wigton in North One West on Saturday.

The home team were in command from the start and got off the mark through Zak Lythgoe’s try.

Man-of-the-match centre Luke Johnston burst up the middle and started a move which ended in Steve Pilkington crossing for Warrington’s second try.

Pat Roberts then added a penalty and a comfortable first half was rounded off with a try from Nathan Beesley, putting Warrington into an 18-point lead at the break.

Warrington seemed to relax after half time and Wigton got themselves back into the game with a period of constant pressure.

Playing mostly in the Warrington half, the Wigton pack retained more possession and put Warrington on the defensive.

An elusive run from Wigton’s speedy right winger had Warrington scrambling but simple handling errors thwarted their attacking efforts and did not allow them to capitalise on breaks.

With 20 minutes gone, a brilliant solo effort from centre Pilkington seemed to be the catalyst to stir Warrington out of their lethargy.

Roberts converted and two minutes later stand-off Andy Roberts touched down in the same spot with a great dummy supported by some convincing off-the-ball running in his centres.

Next on the scorecard was centre Dan Griffiths, substituting for Johnston, with a devastating hand-off getting him through the defence.

Pilkington completed his hat-trick before back rower Sam Nichols added his name to the list with a try on the right, and veteran winger Kevin Jones rounded things off in the last move of the game. He finished off a break down the wing by Griffiths.

Warrington sit fourth with a game in hand on the top three. They visit struggling Aldwinians on Saturday.