Warrington kept their 100% start to the season with a hard fought victory away at New Brighton.

With the Wirral peninsular once again offering up perfect conditions, Warrington started the brighter of the two teams. Sustained early pressure near the New Brighton line saw blind side flanker, Swanton, charge down a clearing kick. It was the Warrington number 6 who responded the quickest and pounced on the bobbling ball to register his first try of the season. Arnold narrowly missing the extra two points.

The game then fluctuated and both teams were able to expose holes in each others defence. It was Warrington who managed to notch another score in the first half when fly half Arnold, skipped past the on rushing New Brighton defence to put centre Cox  in for a simple finish under the posts, Arnold converted and Warrington were 12 0 in front.

Unfortunately for Cox this was his last meaningful contribution as on the stroke of half time he sustained a nasty shoulder injury requiring an ambulance to take him to hospital. The New Brighton medical staff were exemplary in their handling of the situation and the news on the injury is not as bad as first feared.

With the unlucky Cox off the field and full back Lynch in the sin bin for killing the ball Warrington were forced to reorganise their backline. Luckily the strength and spirit of the squad came to the fore and despite the enforced changes Warrington started the second half brightly.

As the game continued however, both sides were guilty of a string of unforced errors and general sloppy play. It was Warrington who managed to score first in the second half however when outside centre Brazendale powered over from long range to score a good individual try. Arnold adding the extras.

New Brighton were unfazed by the score line and continued to press and fight for everything. Their tenacity finally paid off when continued pressure saw their pack bundle the ball over from short range for a well deserved try.

It was Warrington who had the final say however, when a speculative kick from New Brighton landed in the arms of full back Lynch. Instead of returning in kind Lynch ran a spearing line through the broken defence of New Brighton and reached their 22 meter line before being hauled down, Warrington recycled the ball and great hands by the back line saw Brazendale crash over for his 2nd try of the day. Arnold missing the conversion from out wide.

This was a scrappy game from two teams capable of much more, in the end it was the Warrington defence which won out.

New Brighton were superb hosts and the referee was excellent.