WARRINGTON Wolves got their first taste of proposed new rules around high tackles at the weekend.

The RFL are currently trialling an adjustment to the laws of the game in which any tackles at shoulder height or above are penalised in selected academy fixtures.

One of those was The Wire’s under 18s clash with Huddersfield Giants at Victoria Park and there were hopes that the scenario in the first game of the trial between Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos, where almost 60 penalties were awarded, could be avoided.

As it happened, there were 39 penalties awarded during the game as Warrington ran out impressive 74-20 winners.

“This was our first game with the new rules taking place and we were so happy to get the win,” academy head coach Danny Evans said.

“Having watched the Leeds v Bradford game with almost 60 penalties given, it was a bit of going into the unknown. We were not sure of how things would pan out.

“It certainly stopped the flow of the game, but we are really pleased with the result and scoring 70+ points.”

The Wire were 52-10 up at half-time following a rampant first-half display in which they ran in nine tries.

Two of those were scored by hooker Ben Hartill, who was joined on the scoresheet by Alfie Mather, Dylon Braddish, Sam Marshall, Logan Raughter, Frank Sergent, Ben Godwin and Tom McKinney.

Cai Taylor-Wray then crossed twice in a slightly more subdued second half, with Raughter adding his second before Hartill rounded off the scoring by completing his hat-trick.

Noah Booth kicked 10 goals from 12 attempts, with Marshall also landing a goal.

“I thought our middle unit was superb, both starting and coming off the bench, running hard and defending as good as we could,” Evans said.

“Having said that, I thought we conceded some soft tries and that was just down to missed tackles.

“We will learn from this game and hope to be even better in the next game.”

A third straight victory – all of which have come while scoring 50 points or more – keeps Evans’ side second in the Academy table behind unbeaten leaders St Helens.

Their next game sees them take on defending champions Leeds Rhinos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, July 1, kick off 12pm.

“We would love to get some fans down that day and cheer the boys on,” Evans said.

“They are playing some entertaining rugby and this should be a cracker of a game.”

Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray; Dylon Braddish, Zack Gardner, Arron Lindop, Frank Sergent; Noah Booth, Pat Irwin; Logan Raughter, Ben Hartill, Joe Bajer, Sam Marshall, Nolan Tupaea, Alfie Mather. Subs: Adam Whalley, Ben Godwin, Peter Scott, Tom McKinney