Wolves youngsters batter Broncos to retain top spot (From Warrington Guardian)

Warrington Wolves' under 20s romp to victory at Wilderspool

10:23am Monday 30th April 2012 in Wolves news

Warrington Wolves u20 48 London Broncos u20 6

Warrington Wolves under 20s retained their place at the head of the Valvoline Cup table thanks to a heavy defeat of a gallant London Broncos side at Wilderspool Stadium.

Top class defence from the hosts ensured that despite falling to an early deficit and conceding a healthy amount of possession throughout the game, Wolves never really looked in danger of losing out.

Wolves under 20s coach Richard Marshall said: “London Broncos deserve great credit for agreeing to come for a lunchtime kick off and they certainly played their part in a good spectacle.

"They put us under pressure but I though our defence this afternoon was very good, we were very aggressive in the contact and limited the Broncos chances.

"We also scored some exceptional tries, both through individual brilliance and also through good team play.

"Hooker Liam Hulme produced his best performance of the season with an excellent all-round display and the whole of the backline in general did well with Ben Hellewell being the pick; he was very safe and composed at full back and fully deserved his two tries.

"We played with a great deal of confidence and the potential that we have in the squad is really coming out.

"We need to continue in this vein and ensure we are consistent each week.

"The preparation that was done in the week with the support staff is paying dividends and we can now look forward to playing Salford at home next Saturday, kick off 2.30pm at Wilderspool Stadium, which follows the under 18s, who also face Salford at 12.15pm.”

Like their first team counterparts in the Challenge Cup on Saturday, Wolves' youngsters got off to a slow start and allowed Broncos to open the scoring in the seventh minute.

Prop forward Erjon Dolapi was held just short, and from the play-the-ball fellow prop Rob Thomas managed to twist in the tackle and score to the right of the posts, with winger Omari Caro converting.

Wolves hit back five minutes later when good work close to the line by stand off Ryan Shaw and hooker Liam Hulme saw the ball reach second row Danny Bridge, who powered over at the side of the posts and allowed Shaw to level the scores with the conversion.

The hosts hit the front for the first time following a superb 40-metre break by loose forward Matty Blythe, which split the Broncos defence before finding full back Ben Hellewell in support to race over under the posts.

Shaw goaled and three minutes later sent a lovely ball out to centre James Saltonstall, who broke clear down the right wing and slipped Hellewell over at the side of the posts.

Shaw again added the conversion.

A brilliant kick return from Wolves winger Gene Ormsby on his own 20-metre line sliced through the London defence, brushing off three chasers to score under the posts and give Shaw another simple conversion.

On the half hour, Wolves winger Rhys Williams showed a clean pair of heels to the Broncos defenders as he sped 60-metres down the left wing before scoring under the posts to give Shaw another goal and make the half time score 30-6 to the Wolves.

Broncos came out determined in the second period and had large spells in the Warrington half without really threatening the host's line.

It did take the home side until the 64th minute before they managed to score again, following good work by Saltonstall to slip a short ball to Blythe, who raced 50-metres before side-stepping the full back and scoring under the posts.

Shaw tagged on the extras.

Straight from the restart the ball found Williams, who stepped inside and then rounded the cover on the outside before racing 80-metres to score at the side of the posts and give Shaw his seventh goal from seven.

Eight minutes from time, another fine run by Williams split the Broncos defence again and he found substitute Danny Birkett in support to race over on the left.

Shaw completed a perfect afternoon with the boot to make the final score 48-6 to the rampant Wolves.

Wolves: Ben Hellewell, Gene Ormsby, James Saltonstall, Callan Beckett, Rhys Williams, Ryan Shaw, Bobbie Goulding, Ryan Duffy, Liam Hulme, Jack Morrison, Ben Currie, Danny Bridge, Matty Blythe. Subs: Brooke Broughton, Danny Birkett, Ben Smith, Andy Finn.

Broncos: Illias Macani, Jimmy Morgan, Will Lovell, Mike McMeeken, Omari Caro, Sam Bolger, James Woodburn- Hall, Rob Thomas, Shaun Keen, Erjon Dolapi, Ben Bolger, Jack Dillon, Lamont Bryan. Subs: Tolu Obsinaya, Paddy Mooney, Alex Ingarfield, Ashley Smith.