Warrington’s first visit to Littleborough in decades provided a match which, barring red cards, had everything. Tries galore, a smattering of yellow cards, some bizarre refereeing decisions, uncontested scrums, great off loads and a nail-biting finish which Hollywood itself could not have bettered.

With the wind at their back and with the advantage of a considerable slope Warrington, nonetheless, found themselves under early pressure as Littleborough moved the ball well through their backs with only the last pass going forward saving Warrington. With fifteen minutes gone and Warrington pressing with a line-out just outside the Littleborough 22, the home team made the most of one small Warrington error. Although Warrington took the ball cleanly, the pass off the top to scrum half Ollie Hudson went astray. Littleborough pounced, scampered out to half way, recycled quickly down the line and registered their first try wide on the right, an excellent conversion followed. 7-0.

A few minutes later Warrington went for goal when awarded a penalty on the Littleborough 10m line. Although JP Hudson’s kick was marginally wide and went dead, the game was restarted from the penalty spot with a scrum! This was certainly not to Warrington’s advantage as the pack had been under pressure in most of the set scrums from the beefier Littleborough eight. However, Warrington were next on the score board with a magnificent interception by winger Tom McNiff, making a welcome return to the game after a few seasons gone walkabout. Taking the ball deep in his own 22, he outpaced all defenders for a 70m dash to the line. The conversion from JP Hudson levelled the scores. 7-7.

Both sides were having difficulty adjusting to the harsher interpretation of the high tackle regulation and the numerous infringements interrupted the flow of the game. Littleborough were enjoying a greater share of possession, and, when Warrington received a yellow with ten minutes remaining in the half, made the most of their extra man to score their second try. 12-7.

Five minutes later Warrington declined an easy penalty in front of the Littleborough posts. Second-rower Harry Kellett took the short option and crashed up to 10m out. Sam Bennett and Will Morgan then took their turn at the hard work before Kellett blasted over for the score. 12-12.

An exchange of penalties left the score tied at the interval.

HT 15-15

Warrington now faced the stiff breeze and put themselves under early pressure by failing to find touch with their clearance kicks. Resolute defence, notably from Whalley and Turner, kept the home team at bay. Warrington now hit a purple patch, gaining more yards through recycling the ball more quickly. Littleborough, with the wind at their back, sensibly put boot to ball to relieve the pressure but when the wind and slope took the ball over the Warrington dead-ball line, play was restarted by a drop-out on the Warrington 22 instead of a scrum 50m back up the pitch from where the ball was kicked!

Work-horse Morgan and No8 Fleming made particular inroads but often had nobody at their elbow to carry on the half breaks. However, half way through the half newcomer Ryan Newton was on hand to continue the attack. Although he got the ball over the line, it was judged not to have been grounded.

Minutes later, with Warrington still on the attack, a neat grubber kick from centre James Hartill opened up the Littleborough defence and allowed speedster McNiff to touch down just before the ball went dead. 15-20.

Warrington were now in the lead for the first time but with fifteen minutes to go, Littleborough capitalised on a Warrington knock-on and regained the lead with a well worked coverted try through a fluent combination of forwards and backs. 22-20.

Littleborough went further ahead with a push over try from all of 15m out when Warrington’s scrum was disrupted by injury, with second rower Kellet drafted into prop and no less than three wingers in the back five. 27-20.
Throughout the game No8 Fleming did heroic work at the set scrum retrieving the ball as Warrington were shunted back relentlessly.

As the referee called last play Littleborough tried to kick the ball out of play. Newcomer Newton saved the day by catching the low trajectory ball 40m out and heading for the Littleborough line. Stand-off Hudson took the ball on, jinked through two defenders threaded a grubber kick into the in-goal area and won the race to the touch down. Hudson added the extras. Game over.

FT 27-27

A few mistakes cost Warrington dearly and Warrington struggled to maintain continuity of possession but steely resolution in defence against a well-drilled, cohesive side earned a well-deserved draw.

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC