As the score line suggests this was a comfortable win for Warrington who made the most of a huge pitch in excellent condition despite the weather of recent weeks. Despite the move of both middle-row stalwarts Josh Downes and Harry Kellett into the front row to join Alex Rowan, scrums were evenly balanced throughout the game.

Warrington started in top gear when winger Tom McEniff plucked an inch-perfect cross kick from stand-off Matt Beeley out of the air and dazzled his way down the touch into the Leigh 22. Good support and a magnificent off load from hooker Alex Rowan to Johnie Evans took play to within 5 metres of the Leigh line. Warrington continued to press and two short penalties later a deceptive inside pass from Beeley put full back Harrison Turner in under the posts. Conversion by JP Hudson. 0-7 in five minutes.

Warrington dominated territory and possession and when Leigh did manage to put some phases together they made little headway against Warrington’s committed tackling where captain for the day Evans and back rower Jamie Hartill were particularly effective. When Leigh opted to kick, Warrington’s back three of Turner, McEniff and Rigby secured possession and set threatening counter attacks in motion.

Midway through the half, another perfect pass from Beeley found a willing receiver in the strong running No 8 Joe Craven who stormed his way into the Leigh 22 before being dragged down. From here a wide pass and two strong hand-offs later put centre Kyle Cherrett over for his first try.

From the restart Warrington were knocking on Leigh’s line gaining a line-out just 5 metres out. Although Leigh were successful in thwarting Downes in applying Warrington’s rehearsed short line-out move, Downes was not to be thwarted minutes later as he barged over from a short penalty.

HT 0-17.

The half finished with Leigh just managing to frustrate another Warrington attack, catalysed by Downes and carried on with gusto by Beeley and Austin Carr filling an unaccustomed middle-row role.

Second half, second referee. Due to delays on the motorway, the exchange referee who now took over, had been delayed and Leigh’s second team referee had stepped into the breech.

Leigh now began to get themselves more into the game and excellent handling across their back division took them from 22 to 22 before Warrington were able to stem the onslaught. Leigh continued to press through the forwards and ten minutes later, with both teams reduced temporarily to fourteen men, ground over from short range after a succession of short penalties.

Warrington quickly dampened the Leigh resurgence with a penalty from JP Hudson. More cold water was poured when winger McEniff snatched another cross kick from the air, this time one meant for the Leigh winger, and sprinted into the Leigh 22. Timely support from centre Hudson and a snappy return pass put McEniff in for Warrington’s bonus point try. 7-25.

Minutes later as Leigh moved the ball down their back division, Hudson intercepted and took the ball back to within 5 metres of the Leigh line. Quick recycle provided centre Cherrett with the opportunity for his second try, only one hand-off being required on this occasion. Hudson added the extras. 7-32.

With ten minutes to go, Leigh made the most of perhaps the weakest aspect of Warrington’s play on the day when they took possession of a ball from the back of a line-out 30 metres out and sprinted over with Warrington’s defence uncharacteristically adrift.

Warrington had the last two words, however. Cherrett notched up his third try on the end of a an orthodox move with the ball moving crisply down the back division and Craven earned just rewards for his previous hard work finishing under the posts after hard yards and good off loads from Downes and Carr. Harvey Hughes added the extras with the last kick of the match.

FT 12-44

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC