THE Saints Scholarship U15s got this double header with Warrington off to a fine start with a hard earned 18-16 victory.
Led from the front by props Joe McLoughlin and Phil Atherton the Saints had too much for their opponents.
In fact it was the very same props whose hard work put the Saints into the lead. From Atherton’s quick play the ball quick hand from Josh Houghton, Ben Morris and Bobby Williams gave Ryan Lynch the space to run around the defence to the posts for a great try.
The Wolves big left centre got his first two tries of the night to put the home side ahead before the Saints responded in style. Lynch put in a big hit forcing a knock on then from the resulting scrum he went 80 metres to the line outpacing the cover for a great individual score.
Houghton went close with a jinking run but from the play the ball Lewis Fairhurst had the ball knocked from his grasp over the line.
The home centre completed his hat-trick to bring the scores level.
The Saints were denied the lead as Morris put the ball down on a Wolves foot instead of the try line.
The scores were kept even at the break by a great covering tackle from full back Williams as he forced the winger into touch.
Coaches Ian Lomax and Mike Bennett made some defensive adjustments at half time and the Saints looked a more secure outfit in the second period.
A good drive from Jake Spedding put the Saints on the attack and his quick play the ball allowed Aaron Smith to dart over regaining the lead.
The Saints tried as hard as they could but no matter what they did they couldn’t extend the lead.
Bobby Williams just failed to take Liam Cooper’s pass from the second row’s half break and then Smith was held up over the line on the last with McLoughlin screaming for the ball on the inside. David Eccleston capped a fine display with a 60 metre run down the sideline only to be dragged into touch at the line.
The Wolves managed to make it a nail biting finish as the centre grabbed his fourth try but with the final action of the game he again failed to convert his try.
In truth it would have been a travesty had the scores finished level as the Saints were much the better team and would have won by a much healthier score had they taken half their chances.
Anthony Sherratt and Kieron Herbert worked well down the right, Chris Worrall shored up the middle and the Saints were well served off the bench by Ben Calland, James Nicholl, Jake Campbell and by Jonah Cunningham’s darting runs from dummy half.
Match Summary:
Warrington:
Tries: Harvey Livett 4.
Goals:
Saints:
Tries: Ryan Lynch 2, Aaron Smith.
Goals: David Eccleston 2, Lewis Fairhurst.
Half Time: 12-12
Full Time: 18-16
Teams:
Warrington:
1. Ben Sarsfield; 2. Joe Oakes, 3. Harvey Livett, 4. Charlie Hewitt, 5. Josh Whittam; 6. Theo Holt, 7. Jack Hansen; 8. Ross Ainley, 9. Liam Turner, 10. Ellis Humphries, 11. James Jones, 12. Morgan Fearnley, 13. Matt Hesketh.
Subs: 14. Brad Stanway, 15. Matt Horne, 16. Curtis Berry, 17. Nick Gwilliam, 18. Jonny Wilbraham.
Saints:
1. Bobby Williams; 2. Anthony Sherratt, 3. Kieron Herbert, 4. Ryan Lynch, 5. David Eccleston; 6.
Ben Morris, 7. Josh Houghton; 8. Joe McLoughlin, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Phil Atherton, 11. Liam Cooper, 12. Jake Spedding, 13. Chris Worrall.
Subs: 14. Lewis Fairhurst, 15. Jonah Cunningham, 16. James Nicholl, 17. Jake Campbell, 18. Ben Calland.
