The Academy continued their winning streak, with victory over Warrington in a curtain-raiser clash!
It was a great start for the Saints with Matthew Penketh crossing over after just six minutes. On the last tackle, the Saints attacked from their own half, with Ellis Anderson breaking down the right wing. He found George Whitby in support back inside who started the move, who then found Penketh to cross near the posts. Whitby converted to send the Saints ahead with the lead, 6-0.
The Saints were once again in as the 20 minute mark hit. As the Saints began another attack at Wire line, shape was set up to the left as the ball came out the back, Kian McGann ran at the Warrington defence, before dummying the defence to go over and score untouched next to the posts. Whitby converts again to double the lead, 12-0.
With momentum firmly in Saints favour, their dominance continued with two quick tries. The first saw Tom Humphreys scoot from nine close to the Warrington line, he picked the ball up, stepped to the right, where he sent Jake Davies through the line with a lovely soft ball, which saw him crash over next to the posts. Whitby converted, 18-0.
The next came shortly after, a good set following points from the Saints saw Whitby kick deep, turning the Wolves around in their own 10 metre area, A strong chase from Oliver Garmston and Penketh dislodged the ball from Frank Sargent, Anderson reacted quickest by collecting the loose ball to score under the posts. Another conversion from Whitby extended the Saints lead to 24, with 30 minutes gone on the clock!
Just before the break, the Saints would cross over once more. Camped on the Warrington line again, the Saints attacked to the left, with Roberts chiming in out the back to find Reilly Cosgrove, who then found his winger Joel Kilgannon who depsite the attempted tackle attempts from Warrington, he ducked his way over to ground as the half-time siren rang around. Whitby stepped up to convert, but his attempt just skipped past the posts to miss, leaving the Saints 28-0 up at the break.
The second half saw the Wolves cross over early for their only points of the game, and the only points of the second half. A break from Warrington deep in their own half saw them burst away before being halted 10 metres away from the Saints line. Shifting the ball right to left quickly, the ball ended up in the arms of Frank Sergent, who went over in the corner to score. An unsuccessful conversion attempt from Hickey left the score at 28-4, and also brought an end to the points in the game.
The remaining time in the second half saw both teams exchange attacking opportunities, but errors from both sides stopped either team crossing over, in what was a physical, brutal second half, but the Saints defended well to secure the win and remain at the top of the Academy Table!
Saints Team: 1. Louie Roberts, 24. Joel Kilgannon, 2. Reilly Cosgrove, 4. Matthew Penketh, 5. Ellis Anderson, 3. Kian McGann, 7. George Whitby, 10. Morgan Barraclough-Watson, 23. Tom Humphreys, 20. Daniel Frost, 11. Billy Keeley, 12. Jake Davies, 21. Cole Marsh.
Bench: 13. Oliver Polec, 14. Reece Robinson, 15. Oliver Garmston, 16. Alfie Tate.
18th Player: 25. Oliver Stankevitch.
Tries: Matthew Penketh, Kian McGann, Jake Davies, Ellis Anderson, Joel Kilgannon.
Goals: George Whitby (4 from 5)
Warrington Team: 1. Cai Taylor-Wray, 2. Lachlan Webster, 3. James Duffy, 4. Zack Gardner, 5. Frank Sergent, 6. Joe Hickey, 7. Pat Irwin, 8. Charlie McKler, 9. Lewis Barratt, 10. Ben Pearce, 11. Charlie Walker, 12. Kian Stanton, 13. Jake Ramsden.
Subs: 14. Daniel Regan, 15. Alfie Mather, 16. James McGuire, 17. Harrison Rigby.
18th Player: 18. Oliver Evans (18th Player used in game).
Tries: Frank Sergent
Goals: Joe Hickey (0 from 1)
