Stockport 38 Warrington 28

WARRINGTON dropped to eighth place in a tight North One West as a result of Saturday's loss.

Despite falling 14-0 behind in as many minutes Warrington twice got the score back to within three points in the second half with the help of a Nathan Beesley hat-trick but the controversial dismissal of hooker Paul Thompson seven minutes from time scotched hopes of victory.

“We were asleep at the start of the game but got right back into it with some superb tries," said forwards coach John Callander.

"We need to have confidence in our handling and our ability to retain possession.

"Some of our kicking just handed the ball back to Stockport who were quite happy to run it back with interest."

Warrington pulled seven points back in the 20th minute when prop Christian White bustled over from 15 metres, Ben Hockenhull converting.

Stockport added a push-over try from a five-metre lineout before the break but in the third quarter two converted Beesley tries that sandwiched a Stockport penalty cut the gap to three points.

With 15 minutes to go, some hard yards by the Stockport pack were finished off by their winger.

Beesley completed his hat-trick by rounding off superb interplay with Hughes and Thompson.

It seemed that Warrington might just steal a win but a red card for Thompson led to Warrington being denied a losing bonus point as Stockport finished with a final pushover try.