Liverpool Collegiate vs Warrington RUFC

Warrington paid the price for only sending a mixed 1st/2nd XV to Merseyside for this Lancashire Plate 2nd Round tie. Having triumphed at the same ground by only 9pts-5 two weeks ago in a League fixture the Club acknowledged that this was a high risk strategy and it was one that did not work out.

Only seven of the players who started the League game a fortnight ago were in the starting line up on Saturday with Anton Fields taking on the pivotal position of fly half for only the second time in his illustrious career. By contrast the home team was very much “up for it” and it was no surprise when they took the lead from a quick tapped penalty to score wide out, with one or two Warrington would-be defenders going missing when duty called. Kevin Jones struck back with a penalty goal to reduce the margin but a imilar kick for the home team restored the margin to five points at the interval.

Although Warrington fared better in the second half, with Rick Jones and Steve Mahony looking dangerous in attack it was the hosts who extended their lead when another one-on-one missed tackle allowed the centre to cut through and score under the posts and put Collegiate ahead by 15pts-3. Warrington did hit back when Fields broke through after good work by James Farrell and Sullivan was on hand to slip the ball out neatly to Kevin Jones who was rewarded for his hard work with a well taken try. 

At only seven points down Warrington scented an unlikely passage into the Quarter Finals but a lack of consistency around the ruck area allowed Collegiate to clear their lines time and time again.  In the final move of the match they scored again to leave Warrington ruing the fact that they had allowed such an understrength side to take to the field.

THIS SATURDAY WARRINGTON PLAY THE FIRST OF TWO CONSECUTIVE HOME LEAGUE FIXTURES WHEN THEY ENTERTAIN BOTTOM PLACED OLDERSHAW AT WALTON LEA ROAD, KICK OFF 2.30PM.  A WIN IS VITAL IF THEY ARE TO MAINTIAN A PUSH FOR PROMOTION

************

Back to 1st Team Fixtures