Warrington run in six tries to beat Widnes

WITH almost total forward dominance throughout, Warrington ran in six tries to defeat neighbours Widnes and go back on top of North One West.

They face Cumbrian sides in their next four games, starting with a trip to Carlisle on Saturday.

Warrington took control from the kick-off and set out their stall at the first scrum when they drove the visitors powerfully off their own ball.

They meted out the same medicine at the second scrum with their front row of Elliott Johnstone, Dom Ward and Clem O’Rourke very much resembling a powerhouse Argentinian outfit of the eighties.

This pressure inevitably led to points and these came when the forwards released the ball to their backs and Jonno Smith gave fellow centre Jamie Thompson the space to ghost over for the first of three tries. Ben Hockenhull converted.

Widnes replied from the restart with a well-struck penalty but this was to be the last time they troubled the scoreboard.

Warrington soon returned to the attack and Max Caldwell was denied in the corner after a scintillating break.

But the next score was not long coming and it came in spectacular style when Tom Wood slipped through a gap and then fooled the defence with an outrageous over-the-top dummy to stroll over.

Hockenhull again converted.

Shortly before half time, Max Caldwell was denied but the ball flashed across the back line from a ruck and an exquisite offload from Smith to Thompson saw the elusive centre coast over for his second score, converted by Hockenhull.

Warrington began the second half with a try in the first minute.

Following a great take from Josh Riley, the forwards applied pressure and eventually Smith bustled over.

At this point, with the bonus point already won, Warrington looked capable of inflicting a humiliating cricket score on their opponents but a combination of excellent Widnes defence and Warrington over eagerness conspired to keep the score down.

Max Walker continued to test the opposition with his bullocking runs, Elliot Johnstone proved once again that he is king of the turnover and the introduction of new recruits, Ewan MacGregor and James Brazendale added punch to the forwards, but Warrington temporarily lost their clinical finishing.

Eventually, this returned when Warrington elected to take a quick tap penalty and an unmarked Thompson first shadow-boxed and danced like Mohamed Ali and then sliced through the bemused defence to score.

The game was finally closed off when excellent interplay between backs and forwards was finished off by debutant James Brazendale. Hockenhull goaled.

“Our forwards were awesome,” said coach Andy Roberts. “And our backs used the possession well to score some excellent tries.

“However, we have a big wake-up call next week at Carlisle, followed by games against Penrith, Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale.

“These will be the first real tests of our, so far, incredibly successful season.”

Bolton 2nd 23 Warrington 2nd 26

AFTER their thriller against Wirral the previous week, Warrington’s second team had yet another game which was in doubt right up to the final whistle.

And once again, they came out on top.

A much bigger Bolton side opened the scoring with a penalty after five minutes.

Warrington were unlucky not to take the lead when a pass from Mike Haddon to Andy Almond was ruled forward after the winger had crossed in the corner but Bolton made no mistake with their first try, when the quick feet and pace of their stand-off gave them an 8-0 lead.

Warrington replied with a try straight from the Halliwell Jones stadium.

Kevin Jones fielded a Bolton kick and passed to Mark Tickle.

The centre handed onto Shaun McDermott who assumed the identity of Lee Briers as he put in a beautiful kick to the corner, which was fielded by winger Almond, who touched down.

Ironically, Warrington took the lead by out-muscling their heavier opponents in a driving maul before Shaun McDermott slipped the ball to Kevin Jones, who crashed over to allow McDermott an easy conversion.

On the stroke of half time, opened up an 11-point lead when scrum half Jack Hannon followed up his own chip ahead to touch down under the posts for a try which was converted.

Five minutes into the second half, Bolton reduced Warrington’s lead with a penalty but with 13 minutes to go, the visitors seemed to have sealed a victory when veteran Kevin Jones took a superb line from the wing to score.

McDermott was successful with the conversion and Warrington were coasting in at 26-11.

But Bolton disagreed and loose defence allowed Bolton’s excellent stand-off to score his second try, which was converted.

Bolton then started to exploit their advantage up front for the first time and after several phases and a number of penalties, they eventually breached the Warrington defence and the score was 26-23.

Bolton then pressed on the Warrington line for eight minutes of stoppage time but the defence held and Warrington gained a well-earned win.

“This was probably as close as it gets,” said coach Paul Thompson.

“But the lads stuck to it, with outstanding performances from Jack Hannon, Phil Lynch and the ageless Kevin Jones.”

Didsbury TocH 2nd 26 Warrington 3rd 28

AFTER going into a seemingly unassailable 21-0 half time lead, Warrington found themselves hanging on by their fingertips in the second period but came from behind to edge the win.

The first half belonged totally to Warrington.

They ruled the forward exchanges and their backs provided a constant threat to the TocH line.

Their first try came from Dan Griffiths, who crossed between the posts after a mazy 20-yard run.

The centre converted his own try.

Warrington then thanked two new recruits, playing their first games for the club, for their next two tries.

First Will Larbey took advantage of the smallest of openings in the opposition defence to touch down and then Jack Appleby managed to dance over, in spite of the handicap of his size sixteen boots.

Both tries were converted by the trusty size ten boot of Dan Griffiths.

However, Warrington seemed to lose the plot in the second half and TocH were quick to take advantage, scoring four tries, three converted, against a lacklustre Warrington defence.

Fortunately, Warrington eventually regained some of their first half composure and when Dan Griffiths picked up his own chip ahead, crossed under the posts and then converted his try, Warrington were back in the lead.

This lead could easily have been squandered, when a missed kick to touch allowed TocH to gain territory and force a scrum five yards out.

Fortunately, the home side knocked on at the base of the scrum and Warrington’s sigh of relief could probably be heard at Walton Lea Road.

“We were superb for 40 minutes,” said coach Lee Graham.

“I don’t really understand what happened in the second but at least we escaped with a win.”

AFTER wins for all the senior sides on Saturday, Warrington’s under 12s completed a successful weekend by winning the Land Rover tournament at Manchester Rugby Club.

This follows on from the side’s success at Stockport the previous week.