Ormskirk 12 Warrington 22

The opening game of the League season gave Warrington a well earned away win.  Although the performance still left something to be desired this was an encouraging win against difficult opposition who made the visitors work hard for the spoils.

Warrington opened brightly with Matt Rockey and Pete Cannon at half back both asking questions of the Ormskirk defence.  Pressure could not, however, be converted into points until Rockey knocked over a simple penalty goal after the home team were penalised for a high tackle after twenty minutes.  When Ormskirk themselves put Warrington under pressure a high tackle from James Shaw brought about a penalty kick from which Ormskirk were not able to take advantage.

The hard work of the front row of Lawrence, Thompson and White was rewarded when a ball was taken against the head from a scrum and Rockey ghosted 30 yards along the touchline before dummying his way over in the corner.  Just before half-time with the visitors under intense pressure Paul Yeadon picked up a loose ball and scampered fully 80 yards downfield.  As the chasing pack hunted him down he slipped the ball to Eddie Fields who in turn put the supporting John Hughes over under the posts giving Rockey an easy conversion and Warrington a comfortable interval lead.

The second half was a drab affair but Warrington’s romp was quickly halted when straight after the break Ormskirk scored a converted try from close range to narrow the gap. The Warrington side was disrupted with flanker Wheatley replaced by centre Jones and when John Hughes had to retire at half-time it gave the ebullient John Welsh the opportunity to fill in at second row.  Warrington extended their lead when a high ball from James Shaw was misjudged by the home defence and when the ball came to Pete Cannon he unselfishly moved the ball on to captain Paul Thompson to dive over for a try that Rockey converted.

An injury to Rhian Mullen meant Warrington played the last fifteen minutes with only 14 players and Ormskirk scored another try from close range as a consolation in the dying minutes.

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

Back to 1st Team Fixtures