Fleetwood come back strongly to deny Warrington a win

The only time these two teams have met in the past, the game ended in a draw, so expectations were high for another tight contest.

It was Warrington who started the brighter and their ability to retain possession for prolonged periods soon lead to an opening score. Slick hands from the visitors back line saw centre Brazendale cut loose to score his 4th of the season. Arnold missed the conversion, 5-0 to Warrington.

Warrington were able to extend their lead and again it was good hands which opened up the home team defence. With the departure of scrum half Riley, Warrington needed to reorganise their back line. The returning Wilson showed what the team had been missing with his prolonged absence when he ran a good straight line to allow winger Rule to score his debut try. Arnold missed from wide out. 10-0 to Warrington.

Fleetwood shrugged off the early concessions and drove the ball ferociously into the heart of the visitors 22. They recycled the ball well and eventually decided to take the 3 points put on offer to them by Warrington’s ill discipline in front of their own sticks. Half time score Fleetwood 3 Warrington 10.

With a strong wind now at their backs Fleetwood began to dominate possession and put the revamped visitors under sever pressure. It was once again the away team however who managed to score. Rauhihi broke powerfully in midfield and more good hands saw full back and captain, Lynch break the line to score under the posts. Arnold converted Fleetwood 3 Warrington 17.

The home team’s spirit could not be broken and they retained possession well to release their own back line who were able to create a hole and score a well deserved try out wide. A superb conversion saw the score line move to 17-10.

The game then ebbed and flowed as both teams struggled to retain composure and possession. Once again Warrington displayed the individual skills within the team when a passing move started by Brazendale in his own half, moved up the field through a mixture of backs and forwards and was finished off by the centre for his second of the day. Arnold converted to make the score Fleetwood 10 Warrington 24.

Fleetwood refused to lie down and their pack again drove the ball hard into the Warrington defence, eventually they were able to bundle over the visitors line and yet again their kicker did not let them down. The score now Fleetwood 17 Warrington 24.

With only minutes remaining Warrington committed suicide!! Fleetwood with their tails now up and sensing an historic comeback, once again poured all over the visitors and forced an error which saw the ball hacked through to the Warrington try line. Desperate scramble defence from Warrington was not enough and Fleetwood again drove over from short range.

The Fleetwood kicker knowing his was the last play of the game managed to squeeze the ball over the posts to round of a great afternoon for him personally and fine comeback for his team. Final score Fleetwood 24 Warrington 24.