Halifax Blue Sox ... 14
vs
Warrington Wolves ... 16
|
Halifax Blue Sox ... 14 |
vs |
Warrington Wolves ... 16 |
|
Attendance: 4,679
Referee: Steve Nicholson
Half Time: 8 - 12
Penalty Count: 8 - 12
Rovers |
Wolves |
14. Darryl Cardiss 1. Damian Gibson 26. Jamie Bloem 13. Martin Moana 19. David Bouveng 6. Graham Holroyd 7. Gavin Clinch 8. Paul Broadbent 9. Paul Rowley 4. Kelvin Skerrett 11. Gary Mercer 10. Des Clark 24. Chris Chester Subs: 22. Carl Gillespie 2. Nick Pinkney 5. Andy Craig 17. Richard Marshall Tries: Moana [19 mins] Pinkney [68 mins] Goals: Holroyd 3 Sin-bin: Mercer - Dissent |
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 12. Steve McCurrie 3. Jon Roper Subs: 13. Ian Knott 15. Dean Hangar 16. Gary Chambers 23. Mike Wainwright Tries: McCurrie (7 mins) Kohe-Love [38 mins) Penny (53 mins) Goals: Briers 2 Sin-bin: Gillies - Lying on |
The weather conditions for this return clash was, to say the least, atrocious. Driving wind and rain met the fans and players and the conditions told as the ball was dropped and players slipped on the greasy pitch.
The Blue Sox were more than up for this match as they were soundly beaten the previous week by an on-fire Wolves squad who sured there entry into the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup.
Holroyd was the first to put some points on the board for the home side, a penalty for holding down was easily converted after only three minutes (2 - 0).
The Wolves struck back in fine style after Forster and Gillies combined well down the left hand side. Roper did well, scooted wide to draw the defence and fed McCurrie, the big man drove in and scored out wide for a good early try. Briers did well in difficult conditions to add the conversion. (2 - 6).
The Blue Sox picked up the pace and started to dominate, Holroyd missing a conversion on sixteen minutes, then Des Clark being rolled on his back by Penny and Roach to deny a try. Moana finally broke the deadlock and scored a forwards try by blasting through a gap and touching down out wide. Holroyd couldn't add the extra but the Blue Sox were beginning to impress (6 - 6).
The Blue Sox pressure was kept up and the Wolves did well to hold them, new stand-off Scott Wilson taking it a little literally as he was penalised for holding down. Holroyd took the points to give the home team their first lead (8 - 6).
Some how the Wolves soaked up more pressure and struck back just before half time with a superb try. Hilton, living up to his 'beast' moniker, blasted down the wing to set up the field position for Wilson to feed Kohe-Love. The classy Kiwi handed off two would be defenders and then stepped the fullback to score a great try. Briers didn't disappoint and added the extra two to swing the lead back to the Wolves (8 - 12).
The Wolves started where they left off - McCurrie used his strength and size and popped the ball up for Penny to out muscle the defence for a deserved try. Briers conversion went just wide (8 - 16).
Gillies had a ten minute rest for laying on, closely followed by former Warrington player Gary Mercer for dissent to the referee.
The pressure was almost unbearable for the Wolves by a fired up Blue Sox determined not to be beaten at home. Holroyd picked up a simple penalty after Farrar was adjudged to have tackled high on 62 minutes (10 - 16).
Again the Wolves had to defend hardily but the pressure told when Forster fluffed a cross-field kick for Mercer to play the ball quickly. Dummy half Nick Pinkney spotted daylight and went in at the corner. Holroyds kick was good but bounced off the post to deny a tied scoreline (14 - 16).
Pressure continued with the Blue Sox coming close but a jubilant Wolves side held out for a much deserved victory and a great opening match to Super League 4. The Wolves worked for one another and played as a team, something seemingly lacking over the past few seasons.
Quotes:
"Atatck was not going to be a big part of the game with the weather conditions"
"They defended superbly during the period when Gillies was sin binned"
"We came across for the two points and had to grind it out" - Darryl van De Velde