Wilmslow 10 Warrington 8

WARRINGTON slipped to a late defeat despite dominating much of the game at high-flying Wilmslow.

Andy Roberts’ side, eighth in the North One West table, had gone toe-to-toe with their third-placed hosts and kept them off the scoresheet while leading at half-time.

However they could not repel a Wilmslow comeback, and a penalty two minutes from the end consigned them to back-to-back league defeats.

They started the game brightly, and regularly tested a sturdy home defence that were eventually forced into an infringement that allowed Luke Gilooly to open the scoring from a penalty.

Within minutes, Roberts’ side went further ahead when Tom Arnold sprinted through a broken Wilmslow defence in returning a kick before inviting Max Caldwell to score, but Gilooly’s missed conversion proved pivotal.

Warrington were still able to go into half time eight points to the good, but they were forced onto the defensive after the interval.

Eventually, Wilmslow’s pressure paid off and Ethan Harding was able to get his side on the board, with Bob MacCallum’s conversion reducing Warrington’s lead to one point.

Both sides continued to show their strength in defence, with Caldwell required to put a stop to a Wilmslow break that looked destined to give them the lead.

However, with time running out and Arnold in the sin bin for tackling a player in the air Warrington were penalised and MacCallum booted his side to victory.

Roberts’ side will aim to avoid a third successive loss when they welcome Blackburn to Walton Lea Road on Saturday, kick off 3pm.