Warrington are experiencing a difficult start to their new campaign in South Lancashire/ Cheshire Division One following last season’s promotion, having lost their three opening games. However, there were some positives to take away from this latest defeat at Widnes, especially in a second half performance which showed strength of character and more aggression in all phases of play.

Against the run of play, Warrington had opportunities to take an early lead, but McNair missed two penalties in a fashion reminiscent of Sean McDermott drop kicks. Unfortunately, the Widnes kicker was not so profligate and gave his side a 6 point start before they further extended their lead with a well-taken try in the corner.

Warrington were unlucky not to reduce the deficit when they had a try disallowed because of the intervention of their own touch judge and Widnes went further ahead on the stroke of half time when their excellent full back kicked ahead and won the foot race to touch down. The try was converted.

Widnes began the second half at full throttle and continuous forward pressure saw them power over to make the score 23-0. They further increased their lead when good hands created space for their open side wing forward to ghost though a gap to allow their kicker an easy conversion.

With twenty minutes to go, Warrington started to perform. The introduction of Guest saw Warrington start to punch holes in the Widnes defence and it was a Guest break  which eventually forced a scrum in the corner. Thompson took a strike against the head and scrum half Hennessy, who was excellent throughout, dummied and dived over.

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