Warrington Wolves ... 50
vs
Featherstone Rovers ... 6
|
Warrington Wolves ... 50 |
vs |
Featherstone Rovers ... 6 |
|
Attendance: 4,335
Referee: Steve Nicholson
Half Time: 12 - 0
Penalty Count: 7 - 6
Wolves |
Rovers |
|
1. Lee Penny 2. Jason Roach 4. Toa Kohe-Love 17. Alan Hunte 5. Mark Forster 6. Scott Wilson 7. Lee Briers 8. Mark Hilton 9. Danny Farrar(C) 10. Danny Nutley 11. Simon Gillies 13. Ian Knott 23. Mike Wainwright Subs: 3. Jon Roper 16. Gary Chambers 18. Dean Busby 21. Steve McCurrie Tries: Forster (5, 48, 61 mins) Wilson (6 mins) Kohe-Love (56 mins) Hunte (69, 72, 78 mins) Roach (80 mins) Goals: Briers 7 |
1. Matt Bramald 2. Ian Thompson 3. Martin Law 4. Carl Hall 5. Jamie Stokes 6. Ryan Horsley 7. Paddy Handley 8. Hitro Okesene 9. Richard Chapman 10. Asa Amone 11. Danny Evans 12. Steve Dooler 13. Richard Slater Subs: 14. Jamie Coventry 15. Gavin Swinson 16. Dale Morgan 17. Rob Padgett Tries: Thompson (53 mins) Goals: Chapman 1 Sin-bin: Okesene - Laying on (25 Mins) |
The Wolves put up a decent second half performance to soundly beat first division hopefulls Featherstone Rovers.
In a wet and slippy Valentines Day Wilderspool it was hardly a massacre for the Yorskhire side as they acquitted themselves admirably in a difficult conditions.
The Wolves started strong and showed their pedigree after five minutes Forster showed that his pace still hasn't left him as he sprinted in for true wingers try. Briers adde the first of his many kicks of the day to give a the Wolves full points (6 - 0).
Newboy, and one of four to make a full debut, Scott Wilson supported well and dived in at the corner as he ended a passing move out wide that would be used througout the match to great effect. Briers wasn't able to add the points this time but with less than ten minutes gone the visitors were looking shakey against a full strength home side looking for glory.
The Wolves kept the pressure on for the rest of the first half, with the Rovers only ever foraging into the danger zone once or twice. Briers added a brace of penalties to his tally, punishing the laying on tactics of the underdogs (16 - 0), Okesene having a forced ten minute rest just before the half hour.
There the score stood until the stroke of half time when the hooter sounded and the players started to amble to the tunnel, only to be brought back by the referee for a penalty against Gillies 20 metres out to Featherstone. Normally rock-steady kicker Chapman, who until now was not kicking well, continued his form to push the shot wide and allow his side to be nilled for the first period.
The second half staretd a little like the first with Forster grabbing his brace and finishing off another good handling move to go over in the gym corner. Briers must have been rooing the wide out tactics as his kick was close but wide (20 - 0). The slippy conditions started to take effect as both teams were turning over possesion a little too much. Featherstone, certainly not out of the game yet, put on a similar move to the last Warrington try, a good handling build up and then in at the corner for winger Ian Thompson. Chapman hit the difficult conversion perfectly and added to his sides chances of a comeback (20 -6).
The visitors celebrations were short lived as Kohe-Love, who looked dangerous in both attack and defence, stepped and sprinted for another well worked try. The Wolves were starting to show their class with the forwards busting big holes up the middle and the backs moving the ball with ease and confidence to exploit the ever increasing gaps in the Rovers line. Briers again failed with the boot (24 - 6).
Featherstone were still not down as the gritty determination that won them through to the Divsion One Grand Final last season showed as they refused to lay down and die. Forster bagged his hat-trick half way through the second half after picking up a good bounce from a neat kick. The build up started with the impressive Penny driving the ball in for good field position, and then another quick handling move saw its reward. Briers stroked over the touchline conversion, the game was all but over for the brave visitors (30 - 6).
The last ten minutes must have been a blur for the Rovers as new signing Alan Hunte stamped his mark all the over the game. The centre added the coup de grace with a brilliant 50 metre sprint to the line, officially opening up his account for his new club. Briers popped over the kick for under the posts (38 - 6).
Another great piece of speed, virtually from the restart, saw the backline work well and put another of their now trademark wide handling moves on. Hunte latched onto the ball and the centre again showed his pace and strength and went in at Fozzies corner for a good try. Briers missed adding the extras but the Wolves were streets ahead in points and skill (42 - 6).
A joyous moment for the Fletcher Street faithfull as Hunte, in an almost carbon copy of his first, broke free and burst up the middle to out pace the defence and score his hat trick. Briers popped over another for his seventh conversion of the day (46 - 6).
The whole of the back line was on-fire as they moved the ball around like they were in an exhibition match. The ball came from side to side until Kohe-Love has quick hands to pass onto Roach for the ginger winger to dive in a the scoreboard corner to totally seal the match and notch up the half ton.
A very good second half performance with Penny, Kohe-Love, Wilson and Hunte all being very impressive. The pack did well in difficult conditions and layed a good foundation for the half backs to work off. All in all a decent match but I feel the best is yet to come.