RESERVE teams are often a combination of players drawn from different places within a club.

That was in perfect evidence on Saturday as Warrington Wolves’ second string won in dominant fashion against their Newcastle Thunder counterparts.

The side contained first-team players Connor Wrench and Matty Nicholson, who were left out of the side that lost to Hull KR – controversially in the opinion of many – and instead kept themselves ticking over with Danny Evans’ group.

Warrington Guardian:

Having not been selected for the first team against Hull KR on Friday, Matty Nicholson turned out for the reserves against Newcastle on Saturday. Picture by Bob Brough

At the other end of the spectrum, just under half of the players used used in the 80-4 victory on Tyneside were drawn from the club’s rugby development partnership with Priestley College – something Evans was keen to highlight post-match.

“I want to give a special mention about our relationship with Priestley College as eight of our 17-man squad have studied there as well as playing for their rugby side,” he said.

“It goes to show that the link we have with them is invaluable and working superbly.”

Playing in the centres, Wrench showed his class by scoring four of The Wire’s 15 tries while winger Josh Lynch also touched down four times.

Warrington Guardian:

Connor Wrench touches down for one of this four tries. Picture by Bob Brough

Second rower Stephen Antrobus grabbed a hat-trick and Peter Scott scored twice, with further tries coming courtesy of Noah High and Dylon Braddish while full-back Lewis Hughes kicked 10 goals.

“We produced a high quality 80-minute performance,” Evans said.

“We were really disciplined in attack and defence – our completion rate was 95 per cent in the first half and 89 per cent overall, which is testament to the professionalism shown.

“I thought Connor Wrench and Matty Nicholson, who stepped down from the first grade, led by example and that filtered through to the rest of the team.”

Warrington are now third in the Reserves table with three regular-season games remaining, the next being against St Helens at Victoria Park on Saturday, August 6.

Wolves: Lewis Hughes; Peter Scott, Connor Wrench, Dan Brewin, Josh Lynch; Tom Whitehead, Adam Whalley; Ashley Barnes, Aiden Doolan, Sam Marshall, Stephen Antrobus, Noah High, Matty Nicholson. Subs: Joe Bajer, Bobby Shingler, Dylon Braddish, Logan Raughter