ASHTON ON MERSEY RUFC 13pts WARRINGTON RUFC 24pts

Warrington’s encouraging start to the season continued on Saturday with their fourth consecutive win on the road.  Once again the side did not play at their best but they did enough to run out comfortable winners against a spirited Ashton side.  The major difference between the two sides was Warrington’s scrum half Matt Rockey, who continually tore holes in the Ashton defence with his probing runs.

Following an early miss at goal by Rockey Warrington fell behind when Jones was penalised for entering a ruck from the side and the home team stand off kicked a simple penalty.  Straight from the kick off Gareth Wheatley pounced on the ball and ever improving Martin Tierney was on hand to support and slip the ball to Pete Cannon.  Cannon in turn moved the ball swiftly on to Anton Fields who then swotted off four would-be tacklers to score wide out.  Almost immediately Warrington scored again Rockey put in a deep kick downfield and was quickest to react when the ball took an awkward bounce to leave two defenders training in his wake as he hacked the ball on and score an outstanding individual try.  A further Ashton penalty completed the scoring in the first half and at the break Warrington led 14pts-6.

The second half saw Ashton take the initiative but stout Warrington defence meant that the home side could not turn their abundant possession and territory into points.  It was against the run of play that Rockey landed a 40 metre penalty kick to extend Warrington’s lead and when more sharp handling saw Anton Fields go in for his second try which Rockey converted the visitors led 24-6 and the game was over.

The match itself was not a particular rugby spectacle with intermittent skirmishes between the players and a second half that lasted in total 54 minutes through injuries and a rather bizarre ‘water break’ midway through it.  Warrington was disrupted early on when prop Wayne Lawrence had to go off injured.  There was a debut for assistant coach Mark Godwin and his kicking game added a new dimension to Warrington’s play.

This weekend Warrington face early League Leaders Wallasey in the first home game of the season.  Priorities will be more quality possession from the line out and a bit more incisive running in the backs.

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