Nine Fine Tries

For the third week in succession, the penalty count was very low and, of course, without this constant intervention, the players were able to make the game flow, adding to the spectacle.

Throughout the afternoon but particularly in the second half, Warrington showed their rugby league heritage by putting on a master class in offloading and recycling to retain continued possession of the ball for long periods. Hardly once did they drop a pass or allow themselves to be turned over at the rucks. In rugby league, they have the sixth tackle rule but no such restriction applies in rugby union, where referees can implement the ‘use it or lose it’ regulations. Warrington had these down to a fine art and in the face of such efficiency, Wilmslow had no answer. Inevitably, as they struggled to get hold of the ball in the second half, they got themselves penalised, which merely allowed the home side to strengthen their grip on proceedings, and there was always the danger that tackles would be missed as the pressure mounted. Living on scraps of possession, Wilmslow took to hoisting the ball downfield to get some territory from where to launch their own attacks. The tactic would have been fine if the ball had gone into open spaces but it didn’t and was merely hoovered up by the Warrington back three, who just ran it back up the field again.

In every other aspect of the game, the sides were well matched. Neither had any advantage in scrum or lineout and both looked dangerous in their contrasting styles with the ball in hand.

And yet, despite their difficulties, the Wolves still came to within fractions of salvaging the game in the last few minutes. First a touchdown by Toby Rowe, chasing a well placed kick from Ollie McCall was harshly ruled out by the referee, who was the only person on the ground to judge that the ball had first gone dead and then in the last play of the game, enterprising play had taken the ball to the Warrington line, only for the last pass to be spilt. That alone probably summed up the difference between the sides. Wilmslow were always fallible in possession, when they had any, Warrington weren’t as they protected what they had as though it were their life savings.

The Wolves were first out of the starting blocks. A powerful trade mark surge down the centre from left winger Sam Cutts nearly yielded a try in the opening moments and then on six minutes, number 10 Ollie McCall, thankfully back from injury and replacing the injured Bob MacCallum, received good quick ball from the scrum and jinked through the defence for a classic fly half score.

Play ebbed first in one direction and then in another. Warrington centre Jono Smith, with the build of a prop, was nevertheless proving to be a handful in mid field, twice nearly putting his support runners away. A good opportunity for the Wolves was squandered in the Warrington twenty two when they elected to kick rather than to pass and then as an eventful first quarter drew to a close, the Wolves got turned over in the Warrington twenty two as they went for their second try and the home side were soon doing what they did best as they created an opening for Joel Baker to level the scores.

Wilmslow then had their best period of the game. A McCall penalty set up a perfect catch and drive position. Mike Clifford duly did the catching, the rest of the pack the driving and scrum half Andy Walker, like the artful dodger, darted over in the corner. This was followed by a break from Craig Cooper out of the Wilmslow twenty two with plenty of support to pass, the ball was recycled in the Warrington twenty two to and from thirty metres out McCall scooted round the defence, in a carbon copy of his run thirty minutes earlier.

In the closing moments of the first half, Wilmslow had several narrow escapes. Smith nearly broke through again and his pass when it came was judged to be forward. Another Warrington move broke down with an over ambitious pass but the Wolves couldn’t clear and from an attacking scrum and ruck on the line scrum half Tom Wood scored to make it 14-17.

There was still everything to play for as the second half got underway with both Warrington wingers, Kevin Jones and Tom Arnold showing what a menace they could be. It was no surprise when the Wilmslow defence was shredded on the left flank for Matt Connelly to score a try, imperiously converted from the touchline by Steve Pilkington.

The Wolves weren’t out of it yet though as from an increasingly rare sortie, No. 8 Simon Irving was first held up and then from the following scrum, the Wolves first went right and then switched it to hooker Max Harvey on their left, who needed no second bidding.

There were still thirty minutes to play and for the next twenty five of them, Warrington just took charge, patiently building their attacks as the Wolves were driven backwards. Full back Luke Johnston scored from a quickly taken tap penalty after sixty minutes and then five minutes later Jones deservedly finished off a fine handling move for his try.

At 33-24, playing at home, the game had effectively been won and lost. A late flurry of strong running and passing from the Wolves looked good but it wasn’t to be sufficient. If Rowe’s touchdown had been allowed, then who knows what might have happened. The Wolves had travelled to Warrington believing this was a game they could win but with so little difference between so many of the sides in this league, it was always going to be difficult for them. Warrington are unbeaten at home since January 2012, and still growing in confidence after some impressive recent performances at home. Next week, Carlisle are the visitors to The Memorial Ground. The Wolves need a win.