Although Warrington were ahead throughout the match, this was in the end a close run battle in which Bolton could have snatched victory but for a knock on in the penultimate play of the game.

Warrington opened proceedings within two minutes with a foray into the Bolton 22 where the home side were caught off-side. Matt Beeley slotted the conversion. Collecting the restart, winger Harvey Matthews started an attack with some lightning yards, taken on with determination by prop Harry Kellett, then with equal force by No8 Joe Craven who grounded under the posts. Beeley converted to put Warrington ten up within eight minutes. 0-10.

Bolton struck back immediately, however, with a pushover try from a 5 metre line-out. 7-10.

Warrington regained the ten-point margin five minutes later with a try from captain Danny Fleming. Good yards from another Kellett /Craven combination with quick recycle through full back Jack Rigby gave Fleming plenty of room on the outside and an almost unopposed trot round under the posts for an easy conversion by Beeley. 7-17.

Warrington continued with their expansive style of play to put winger Ryan Eastwood over in the corner in the twenty fifth minute but the winger was held up over the line.

A succession of free kicks and penalties from Warrington infringements then the allowed Bolton easy progress from 22 to 22 where Whalley and Hamblett were noticeable in defence.

With half-time approaching Warrington gained a scrum 10m from the Bolton line. Louis Freeman, making his belated debut in the front row for the injured Hamblett, was the catalyst for reversing Warrington’s fortunes at the set piece. Hitherto on the back foot, the Warrington pack now proceeded to take the ball against the head, resulting in a try from the elusive Beeley. 7-22.

From the restart a lack of simple arithmetic by Warrington allowed Bolton to create an extra man on the left gaining them a line-out deep in the Warrington 22. Another push over try resulted.

HT 14-22.

Bolton reduced their deficit even further with a try early in the second half as a result of Warrington defending too narrowly but, from the restart, No8 Craven got his hands on the ball and with an excellent solo effort bounced and bullied his way 30m for his second try. 19-27.

For the next twenty minutes Warrington put together a brilliant display of handling, tight support and good off-loading with centres McEniff and Cherrett in the thick of things. Perhaps it was this fluidity or perhaps a desire to make it a two score margin, which then encouraged Warrington to decline an easy 3 points when Bolton were penalised under the sticks. Thereafter, prop Sam Bennett touched down at the end of some excellent phases but the referee judged he had knocked on and this was as close as Warrington got to their next try.

Warrington’s attacking zeal was not without its dangers, however. With full back Rigby committed in the line Warrington dropped the ball, Bolton hacked on and only the speed of back rower Luke Turner chasing back to drop on the ball on the half way line stopped what could well have been another Bolton try.

Although Turner had denied Bolton a possible try, the home side did score next with an easy penalty in front of the sticks when Warrington were punished for holding on in the tackle. 22-27 with just ten minutes to go.

Warrington in turn were awarded a penalty in front of the Bolton posts and, this time, did not refuse Beeley kicking the 3 points. Yet another penalty to Bolton took the score to 25-30 with just five minutes remaining. Fortunately for Warrington a perfect cross kick from the Bolton standoff which, if taken cleanly would have earned at least a draw, was fumbled. Warrington regained possession and kicked the ball dead.

FT 25-30

Report by Roy Potts WRUFC