A try apiece in the first fifteen minutes foretold the shape of contest to come. The first, from Warrington, in the eighth minute came from Kyle Cherrett on the left wing finishing a move which started on the left deep in the Warrington half. The ball swept along the line to Ryan Eastwood on the right wing before sweeping back seemingly effortlessly to Cherrett who touched down in the corner. 0-5.

Five minutes later Oldham responded with their heavy pack driving over from a line-out in the Warrington 22. 7-5.

Warrington had the speed but Oldham had the weight.

The home side repeated their catch and drive twenty minutes later having gained a line-out 10m from the Warrington line when Warrington were penalised for a high tackle. Although Warrington resisted the first onslaught, a second line-out gave Oldham another attempt at their party piece which they converted. 14-5.

Two minutes later stand-off Matt Beeley looped round his centre on the half-way line and shimmied through the Oldham back line for a try on the right. 14-10.
From the restart Warrington collected cleanly and centre JP Hudson jinked through the Oldham defence to take the ball into the Oldham half. Second rower Josh Downes took the ball up to the Oldham 22 before handing on to Eastwood but with no defenders in sight and the line beckoning the pass was judged forward and a try went a begging.

Warrington were creating opportunities but not converting them into points. Centre Joe Craven had the line at his mercy courtesy of an inch perfect cross kick from Beeley but was judged off-side. Another superb break from Hudson manufactured a try-scoring opportunity for winger Cherrett but the last pass wasn’t made. Eastwood was again unleashed by well-timed passes but was brought down just 10 metres out so Warrington ended the half 4 points adrift.

HT 14-10

Warrington’s attacking flair, however, earned its just rewards five minutes into the second half when Downes’s determined running took him through the initial tackles, opening the way for Hudson on his shoulder. Although the centre was eventually stopped, the ball was quickly recycled to Eastwood who gave Warrington the narrowest of leads with a third try. 14-15.
This lead was very short lived, however, as a long kick from Oldham deep into the Warrington 22, a good chase and some poor Warrington handling regained the lead for Oldham. 21-15.

Warrington, however, were beginning to get into their stride and a quick, short penalty taken by No8 Danny Fleming was the catalyst for Warrington’s fourth try by prop White from a classy off load by back row Austin Carr. 21-22.
Full back Jack Rigby then earned a penalty try as he dived over the line suffering a high tackle as he did so. 21-29.

With 10 minutes to go and Warrington’s superior fitness beginning to be clear, Cherrett collected an Oldham kick and rounded the chasers, taking the ball up to half way where Craven took up the running before passing inside to the versatile White. The burly prop had his work cut out to beat three tacklers but successfully got the ball down under the posts, Hudson converted. 21-36.

5 minutes later, a neat inside pass from the Beeley to Craven on the Oldham 22 earned Warrington’s seventh try, Hudson added the extras, 21-43.
Oldham also earned a bonus point with the last play of the game as, once again they caught and drove over from a line-out.

FT 26-43

Oldham had the better of the kicking game where long kicks gained some easy yards but, where these kicks did not go to touch, Warrington’s superior speed on the counter, the acres of space on a pitch of practically maximum dimensions, crisp passing and excellent support play provided an entertaining display of rugby.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC