Northwich 10 Warrington 20

WARRINGTON ensured their perfect start to the North One West campaign continued with another impressive away victory.

Having won at Birkenhead Park last week, they once again downed a team fancied for promotion in the shape of Northwich.

Warrington were dominant at the set-piece but struggled to retain their own ball at lineouts as the first 15 minutes were scoreless.

However, that chances when Tom Wood’s cross-field kick was spilled by the Northwich winger and picked up by Nathan Beesley, who kicked through and won the chase to touch down. John Gilooly converted.

Northwich battered the try line in attempt to respond and finally broke through on the stroke of half-time when their pick-and-drive tactics levelled matters at 7-7, with Joel Barber scoring the hosts’ try.

With conditions slightly drier as the second half began, Warrington showed some of their usual attacking flair.

Benefitting from quick recycled ball, Wood threw a wide pass to send Gilooly powering through and he dumped the ball inside to Beesley, who scored between the posts to give Gilooly an easy conversion.

Beesley was yellow-carded for a tackle in the air shortly afterwards and Nick Baldwin kicked a penalty to keep Northwich in touch after Warrington were caught offside.

Gilooly replied in kind before four more yellow cards – three to Northwich and one to Warrington – were shown in the game’s final quarter.

Another Gilooly penalty sealed the victory for Warrington, who travel to Burnage on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Warrington: White, Thompson, O’Rourke, Riley, Downes, Barker, Evans, Callander; Hannon, Wood; McEniff, Pilkington, Hughes, Beesley, Gilooly. Subs: Kellett, Stewart, Emmitt.