“Warra lorra fun!”

Weather was slightly disappointing after the tropical heatwave of the last few days where shorts would have been very acceptable (you know who you are!!). Umbrellas needed and also requests for brews were soon made. After a long queue, drinks were distributed amongst parched parents. Pitchside discussion whilst the boys trained prior to the match was stimulating as ever.

The game was to be played as 2 x 20 mins games.

Manchester kicked off the first game. Warrington appeared to be a very organised side, slowing Manchester attempts to get the first try. Manchester kept the ball up in the half and eventually managed to get a score after a brilliant dummy pass. The try was converted successfully (once the parents had moved away from the posts) and we were off!

The narrow pitch meant there was little space to play in and for Manchester to get the ball out wide. Both teams continued to work hard with Manchester putting the most pressure on. A second try by Manchester was disallowed as the Manchester player was on his knees as he put the ball down over the try line.

After half time both teams came back ready to work hard. The game had lots of scrums and these were well contested. Manchester drove hard in these ( having been told by the coaches to “ get your backside down and push” – is this a phrase they themselves have oft been told?!) often winning Warrington’s ball, although Warrington also managed some good drives.

Warrington kept up the pressure and succeeded in scoring, also converting successfully.

The first game finished:
Warrington 1 – 1 Manchester.

The second game was another physical affair with lots of contact and the ball going to ground rather than out wide although some players managed a run with the ball. Manchester scored a try after winning a defensive scrum. The ball was passed out to an on-rushing Manchester player who ran down the blind side almost getting to the line before being tackled. The move looked to have broken down, but the ball bounced loose and was “ratted” by a Manchester player who ran the last few yards to score.

Warrington never gave up and we thought they had scored but this was not the case. The ball was won by a Manchester player from a ruck close to their try line, put under a lot of pressure, he grounded the ball over the try line to concede a five yard scrum, which they subsequently won. Warrington were now getting frustrated that their hard work was not paying off and were conceding penalties. Manchester made the most of these and from one managed a second try. Manchester fed the ball out wide through a series of passes to the try scorer who went through a number of tough tackles before managing to get the ball over the Warrington line. The try was successfully converted.

Manchester scored again from a defensive scrum, our pack driving Warrington's back over their own try line for the Manchester scorer to fall on the ball to score again.

This game finished:

Warrington 0 – 3 Manchester

Many thanks to Warrington for their hospitality and for a good game.