Warrington put in a performance of heroic proportions against the league’s number two side and were universally judged the better side in a blood and guts game they should have won. Had they managed to kick a couple of missed penalties or could have converted real try-scoring chances into points, then they would have gained the win they really deserved,

The visitors opened the scoring within the first five minutes when they drove over from a ruck out after Warrington had scrambled a line-out clearance and conceded a five yard scrum. The try was converted.

The home side recovered quickly and good approach work in the visitors’ half eventually saw Rockey punish a Bowden discretion with a well-struck penalty. Warrington were now totally in control up front and when skipper Thompson took his second strike against the head, Rockey took advantage to force an attacking position in the Bowden 22.  The forwards won a series of rucks before prop forward Grant powered over for his first try in Warrington colours. Rockey converted to take the lead to 10-7.

Unfortunately, Bowden hit back from the re-start when their strong Fijian back-row waltzed through a poor defence to allow an easy conversion and make the half time score 14-10 in the visitors’ favour.

Warrington continued to dominate in the second half even in the face of sometimes brutal play by Bowden’s South African contingent. Eventually, the referee judged that two Bowden incidents had strayed from brutal to illegal and first a prop and then a centre spent ten minutes in the sin bin. Rockey kicked a penalty following the first dismissal but Warrington were unable to exploit their two man advantage, although they came close when Newans made a superb break and off-loaded to Rockey only for the centre to be pushed into touch five yards out. Rockey again had a chance to give Warrington their deserved victory with a penalty kick but the ball drifted wide and Bowden managed to hold out until the final whistle.

“This was one of our best performances of the season, even though we lost,” commented Warrington coach, Dave Rockey. “Our forwards were awesome with superb contributions from Lythgoe, Thompson and Grant, while our backs at last started to show the creativity they show on the training pitch. We play the number three in our league next Saturday and a win there will completely re-shape our season.”