The visitors had an early opportunity to open the scoring when Warrington were penalised for holding on in the tackle 10m outside their 22. The kick went wide but greater misfortune befell them a minute later as two of their players had to leave the pitch after a clash of heads.

Possession was fairly evenly balanced and although more of the play was in the Warrington half, Warrington’s resolute tackling, where back rower Sam Whalley was particularly noticeable, and speed off the line contained Liverpool’s attacks and led to numerous turnovers. With ball in hand, Warrington’s back division always looked threatening and twenty minutes in full back Jude Lightfoot finished off an initial break by centre James Hartill carried on by winger Jack Rigby. JP Hudson added the extras. 7-0.

Ryan Eastwood was next to score when captain and No8 Danny Fleming picked up from the base of a scrum on the half way line and fed the big winger for a gallop to the line down the right hand touch. 10-0.

Eastwood was again in scoring mode two minutes later, this time on the left side. An intricate move with an initial run around between Hartill and Hudson with Cherrett as dummy runner saw the winger carve a line through a flummoxed Liverpool defence for his second try, converted by Hudson. 19-0.

HT 19-0

Early in the second half, replacement centre Joe Craven showed promise of things to come making a clean break on his own 22 and carrying the ball up to the Liverpool 22. Although Liverpool initially resisted the Warrington pressure, some sharp, short off-loads following a quick penalty in the Liverpool 22 saw middle rower Josh Downes crash over for Warrington’s bonus try, Hudson converted. 26-0.

Craven himself added Warrington’s fifth try travelling at speed onto a well-timed pass from stand-off Hudson who also converted. 33-0.

Breaks from hooker Matt Bullock and prop Jacob White stretched the Liverpool defence and indicated that attacking play was not solely the backs’ prerogative, but Warrington’s final try came from centre Hartill. Fellow centre Chris Johnston made a break on the half-way line and put in a short grubber kick for the line. Although Liverpool initially regained possession Warrington’s chase was good, the ball was recovered and Hartill was on hand to dive over ten minutes before time. 38-0.

Liverpool mounted a determined onslaught on Warrington’s line in the dying minutes of the game but committed, organised tackling from the Warrington pack as a whole denied them any success.

FT 38-0

This was another good display from Warrington who are beginning to show considerably more cohesiveness although two more yellow cards indicate discipline still needs to be improved.

Thoughts of coach Richard Park on the first league game of the season: - “Our defence was unrelenting throughout the 80 minutes, which reflects the change in mind-set that we have developed during pre-season. The attacking shape is not yet the finished article but is starting to come together week by week. Team spirit, togetherness and camaraderie, both on and off the field is there to see in abundance it augurs well for what will be an exciting season.”

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC