Wilmslow 29 Warrington 7

WARRINGTON disappointed under the floodlights at Wilmslow.

Whether it was the mind-set of playing after work, the short turn around between games or the unfamiliarity of playing under lights, the expected spectacle following entertaining fare served up against Stockport four days earlier did not materialise.

Like the previous game, Warrington found themselves a try behind in the first five minutes of the game.

When Warrington got their turn in possession they seemed to have lost their cutting edge.

In the backs, the ball never got to the wings to capitalise on the speed of Arnold and Beesley and in the forwards there was insufficient power or continuity of runners to make a break through.

As a result, the game largely became a succession of rucks played between the 10 metre lines.

After 20 minutes Wilmslow hoisted a kick onto the Warrington 22 metre line. The challenge from full back Thompson was deemed illegal, he retired for 10 minutes and Wilmslow slotted the penalty.

This seemed to galvanise the home side who then put some good phases together culminating in a neat inside pass for a try under the posts.

Warrington struck back on the stroke of half time when centre Hughes split the Wilmslow defence with a beautifully weighted grubber kick. The centre was impeded going for the ball and awarded a penalty with the Wilmslow defender yellow-carded to boot.

The homes side’s woes were compounded just two minutes into the second half when a second man received 10 minutes rest for unwarranted use of the boot.

Warrington, however, did not capitalise on this considerable advantage, kicking the ball away instead of retaining possession and losing two set scrums in quick succession to a seven-man pack.

Wilmslow got their men back and then centre Hughes was singled out for a yellow after a scrum developed into a general melee.

With 20 minutes to go, a superb kick from scrum-half Hockenhull took Warrington into Wilmslow’s 22 for the first time in the half.

Although Warrington regained possession they could not build any consistent pressure in this territory and were turned over too easily by a competent Wilmslow defence.

Five minutes from full time, Wilmslow were awarded a penalty for a high tackle.

From the line-out on the Warrington five-metre line they drove over for a converted try.

Wilmslow took the restart cleanly, ran through some tiring Warrington tackles and touched down under the posts.

Warrington coach Andy Roberts said: “ Despite the scoreline this was a very close game.

“Both sides made lots of mistakes but Wilmslow probably deserved the win as they managed the game better.”