Match Reports

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7th June 2008 - WARRINGTON WIZARDS 44 DEWSBURY CELTIC 18

A top class performance from Warrington Wizards saw them defeat Dewsbury Celtic 44-18 at Wilderspool Stadium on Saturday afternoon in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National.

Warrington were in rampant mood from the outset and ran in a total of eight tries against a Celtic side who competed well for the whole game but ultimately came up short against a determined and well drilled Wizards side.

The Wizards opened the scoring in the second minute when a tap penalty on the Celtic ten metre line saw scrum half Warren Ayres find second row Matt Wilson who powered over with three defenders on his back. Fellow second row Chris Mellor added the conversion.

Celtic pulled two points back three minutes later when full back James Eatherley landed a penalty after the Wizards were guilty of ball stealing, but then on ten minutes a short ball from Ayres found stand off Billy Sheen who sidestepped through a gap to score under the posts. Mellor converted from in front.

The Wizards increased their advantage shortly afterwards when a beautiful short ball from loose forward Alan Reddecliff put prop forward Matt Clark through a gap to score and then when Celtic had second row Sheara Singh sin binned for a high tackle the Wizards took advantage of the extra man as superb work by hooker Steven Smythe and Ayres saw them combine to put prop forward Scott Davidson over at the side of the posts. Mellor goaled to put his side in command at 22-2.

On the half hour Sheen broke clear before sending Ayres on a forty metre run that saw him held just short and a quick play the ball saw centre Stuart Pirrie go on his own from acting half back to score. Mellor tagged on the extras, but they then had Reddecliff sin binned for dissent in the final minute of the half as they went in 28-2 ahead at the interval.

Dewsbury started the second half strongly and seven minutes into it good work by stand off Luke Kemp saw him find centre Paul Gleadhill who broke out of an attempted tackle to score at the right of the posts. Centre Jason Lee added the conversion.

The Wizards then responded when more good work from Ayres and centre matt Taylor created an opening for winger Ian Stephenson to score and then on the hour as short ball from Smythe sent Sheen racing clear. He was held just short but a quick play the ball saw Taylor waltz over. Mellor goaled on both occasions to put the Wizards out of reach at 40-8.

Celtic to their credit never gave up and responded with two quick tries. The first saw Thomas chip through and regather to score, and then Eatherley got the ball inside his own half and raced sixty metres down the left to outpace the chasing cover and score. Lee converted the former to make the score 40-18.

The Wizards had Davidson dismissed on seventy minutes and Celtic substitute Nathan Hadfield was sin binned in the same incident and a minute later Celtic were reduced to eleven men when substitute Matt Clark was yellow carded for striking.

The scoring was completed four minutes from time when the ball was sent out wide to Reddecliff who scorched down the left to score in the corner and wrap up a very impressive 44-18 victory for the Wizards.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards teenage stand off Billy Sheen. He was very well supported by scrum half Warren Ayres, prop forward Matt Clarke and loose forward Alan Reddecliff.

WIZARDS

David YII, Ian STEPHENSON, Stuart PIRRIE, Matt TAYLOR, Carl LLOYD, Billy SHEEN, Warren AYRES, Scott DAVIDSON, Steven SMYTHE, Matt CLARKE, Chris MELLOR, Matt WILSON, Alan REDDECLIFF.

Subs: Hayden JAMES, Danny HOYLAND, Paul WILSON, Jonathan BISHOP.

14th June 2008 - LIVERPOOL BUCCANEERS 28 WARRINGTON WIZARDS 34

Warrington Wizards returned to winning ways last Saturday with a very hard fought 34-28 success at local rivals Liverpool Buccaneers in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National.

The Wizards, already missing eight regulars through injury, suffered further disruption early on with the loss of Gary Hewitt, Matt Wilson and Anthony Beckett, but dug deep into their reserves to claim a victory that could prove vital come the end of the season.

The Buccaneers opened the scoring in the second minute when second row Joel Parker crossed after good work from centre Ian Stanley, and that lead was increased six minutes later when the Wizards lost the ball on the Liverpool twenty metre line and Parker swooped on it to race forty metres before finding half back Steve Brown in support to score under the posts. Stanley added the simple conversion.

The Wizards replied when a good offload from stand off Chris Mellor found second row Matt Clarke who put centre Jono Smith away down the right and his inside ball back to Clarke paved the way for full back Carl Lloyd to go over at the right of the posts. Mellor added the goal points but Liverpool regained their ten point advantage when centre James Lacey scored in the right corner and Stanley added a fine touchline conversion.

Just before the half hour mark the Wizards hit back once again when more fine work from Clarke sent Lloyd away and his looping pass found Smith who scored wide out on the right.

A penalty goal from Stanley a minute before the break gave the Buccaneers an 18-10 interval lead although they were temporarily reduced to twelve men right on the stroke of half time when substitute Scott Heights was sin binned for holding down.

The Wizards reduced the deficit eleven minutes into the second half when a short ball from scrum half Warren Ayres found Smith at speed to power over for a try goaled by Mellor. And they took the lead for the first time four minutes later when a long ball from Ayres found the impressive Lloyd and he slipped a super pass to winger Dane Evans who scored in the left corner.

The lead was increased on the hour when a brilliant offload from substitute Billy Sheen found Lloyd and he put Smith over in the let corner to complete his hat trick, but Liverpool responded almost immediately when a long ball from scrum half Ryan Cunningham found centre James Lacey who scored in the right corner to reduce the Wizards advantage to just two points.

The Wizards pulled clear when Smith powered over for his fourth try despite the attentions of three defenders and then Smith turned provider when he found Ayres in support and he put Clarke over under the posts. Mellor goaled the latter to give his side a twelve point cushion.

Liverpool gained a consolation try in the final minute when hooker Mike Forber scored from close range. Stanley’s goal made the final score 34-28 to the Wizards.

The Man of the Match was Wizards centre Jono Smith. He was very well supported by Carl Lloyd, Billy Sheen, Matt Clarke and Warren Ayres.

Following the game the Wizards Joint Player/Coaches Chris Mellor and Mat Wilson were both mightily relieved to have got the win. Mellor said, “That was a really tough game and we are delighted to have got the win. We were not at our best, especially in the first half, but we dug deep and got our reward. It is like a casualty ward in our dressing room but we are just made up that we got the three points that keeps us in the hunt at the top.”

Wilson added, “The sheer guts and determination that we showed today was remarkable. We were poor in the first half, but we had a chat at half time and turned things round. We were desperate to put last weeks defeat against Crusaders Colts behind us and we have managed to do that. We now have a week off before our next game which will give time for the injured bodies to heal before we play Dewsbury Celtic.”

WIZARDS

Carl LLOYD, Dane EVANS, Jono SMITH, Matt WILSON, Paul WILSON, Chris MELLOR, Warren AYRES, Scott DAVIDSON, Ian STEPHENSON, Gary HEWITT, Matt CLARKE, Anthony BECKETT, Alan REDDECLIFF.

Subs: Billy SHEEN, Danny HOYLAND, Hayden JAMES, Matt BARBER.

7th June 2008 - WARRINGTON WIZARDS 30 CRUSADERS COLTS 44

Welsh side Crusaders Colts made their first ever appearance at Wilderspool Stadium on Saturday afternoon and came away with a thrilling 44-30 victory over the previously unbeaten Warrington Wizards in a high quality The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National game that was a fantastic advert for the league.

The Colts started like a house on fire and held a big half time advantage, but the Wizards to their credit never gave up and came storming back in the second half, but it was ultimately to no avail as the visitors inflicted the first defeat of the season on their hosts.

The Colts opened the scoring in the tenth minute when a kick through by centre Greg Callow rebounded off a Wizards player and he re-gathered to race away and score under the posts and then six minutes later good play by scrum half Aled James found his half back partner Steve Parry who danced through a gap to score. James converted on both occasions.

Straight from the restart, the Colts got the ball out wide to winger Josh Hannam who sprinted sixty metres down the left wing to outpace the chasing cover and score under the posts to give James the simplest of conversions, but the Wizards hit back just after the midway point when a short ball from scrum half Warren Ayres found second row Matt Wilson who powered over from close range. Stand off Chris Mellor added the conversion.

Crusaders responded just after the half hour when a repeat set on the Wizards line paid off when centre Lee Williams went over from close range and then right on the stroke of half time quick hands saw the ball sent out wide to Callow who sprinted down the right to score. James goaled the latter to give his side a commanding 28-6 interval advantage.

The Wizards come out in determined fashion after the break and four minutes into the half a quick tap penalty by Mellor saw him find loose forward Alan Reddecliff who put second row Jono Smith through a gap to score, but then eleven minutes later a scrum on the Wizards twenty metre line saw the Colts get the ball out to Callow who broke through to complete a fine hat trick.

Warrington refused to throw in the towel and on the hour a short ball from Mellor put Smith over at side of the posts, and then seven minutes later great play down the left by substitute Anthony Beckett found winger Ian Stephenson whose lovely inside ball put substitute Stuart Pirrie over. Mellor goaled the former as the Wizards reduced their deficit to twelve points.

The game breaker came when Callow intercepted a Wizards pass and raced ninety metres to score under the posts. James added the conversion, and then as the Wizards went for a short restart the ball fell kindly to Callow who went fifty metres to register his fifth touchdown. Williams took over the kicking duties to add on the extras.

The Wizards to their credit kept going and good play by Pirrie and Mellor saw Beckett score under the posts, Mellor converting and then in the final minute the ball was sent out wide to Reddecliff who forced his way over. Mellor’s attempted conversion that would have secured his side a bonus point agonisingly bounced back off the upright as the Colts celebrated a deserved 44-30 win that keeps them at the head of the table.

The Man of the Match for the Wizards was prop forward Matt Clarke. He was well supported by Chris Mellor, Anthony Beckett and Jono Smith.

WIZARDS

David YII, Ian STEPHENSON, Vinny REARDON, Matt TAYLOR, Carl LLOYD, Chris MELLOR, Warren AYRES, Scott DAVIDSON, Steven SMYTHE, Matt CLARKE, Jono SMITH, Matt WILSON, Alan REDDECLIFF.

Subs: Billy SHEEN, Stuart PIRRIE, Anthony BECKETT, Matt BARBER.

1st June 2008 - HEMEL STAGS 36 WARRINGTON WIZARDS 48

Warrington Wizards recorded a very hard fought 48-36 away victory at Hemel Stags in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National on Sunday afternoon to move level on points with leaders Celtic Colts with a game in hand.

The Wizards made it seven out of seven with a gutsy last quarter after they let slip a healthy half time lead against a side who were down to twelve men from the second minute.

Hemel second row Caine Wynyard dismissed after two minutes for a high stiff arm tackle and five minutes later the Wizards opened the scoring when good play by prop forward Matt Clarke and full back David Yii sent centre Andy Addison clear and he found second row Jono Smith in support who then passed back to Addison who went over on the right.

The Wizards stretched their lead on twelve minutes when lose forward Alan Reddecliff broke clear and raced forty metres before finding Mellor who was hauled down, but a quick play the ball saw Reddecliff take advantage of a gap on the right to edge close to the line before passing to Mellor who crossed.

Hemel hit back just before the half hour mark when a 40/20 by full back Mark Coulson gave them the head and feed on the Wizards twenty and from the scrum, stand off Kane Phillips scored at the side of the posts. Centre Barry-John Swindells converted to reduce the Stags deficit to just two points.

Five minutes later good play down the left by Mellor and centre Matt Taylor found winger Carl Lloyd and the debutant managed to force his way over in the corner despite having four defenders on his back, and then three minutes before the break hooker Steve Smythe was held just short and from the play the ball scrum half Warren Ayres gave a superb ball to Reddecliff who scored at the side of the posts. Mellor goaled the latter to give the Wizards a deserved 18-6 half time advantage.

The home side came out very determined at the start of the second half and five minutes into it hooker Gareth Swindells went on his own from acting half back to score and then almost immediately a lost ball by the Wizards was pounced on by second row Craig Bailey who raced sixty metres to score under the posts. B-J Swindells converted on both occasions to level the scores at 18-18.

Hemel now had the bit between their teeth and they took the lead for the first time on fifty seven minutes when Bailey burrowed over from acting half back to register his second touchdown. B-J Swindells again added the conversion.

The Wizards refused to lie down and hit back six minutes later when Ayres passed on the blind side to Lloyd who scored his second try in the left corner. Mellor found his kicking range with a fine touchline conversion to level the scores at 24-24.

Shortly afterwards a solo run by Mellor saw him outpace the cover to score his second try and then another smart pass from Ayres found prop forward Scott Davidson who powered over. Mellor converted both tries to give the Wizards a twelve point cushion.

Again, Hemel refused to lie down and Coulson scored under the posts to give B-J Swindells a simple conversion, but then a good ball from Reddecliff put winger Stuart Pirrie over wide out. Mellor tagged on another fine touchline conversion as Hemel substitute Wes Smith was dispatched to the sin bin for dissent.

The Stags ensured a frantic finish when winger Stuart McIntyre scored in the left corner with a minute remaining and B-J Swindells continued his perfect afternoon with the boot, but the Wizards had the final say when Smith forced his way over right on time. Mellor converted to round off an enthralling 48-36 win.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards loose forward Alan Reddecliff. He was well supported by Chris Mellor, David Yii and Carl Lloyd.

WIZARDS

David YII, Carl LLOYD, Andy ADDISON, Matt TAYLOR, Stuart PIRRIE, Chris MELLOR, Warren AYRES, Scott DAVIDSON, Steven SMYTHE, Matt CLARKE, Jono SMITH, Matt WILSON, Alan REDDECLIFF.

Subs: Billy SHEEN, Danny HOYLAND, John MOLPHY, Gary HEWITT.

24th May 2008 - WARRINGTON WIZARDS 22 BRAMLEY BUFFALOES 14

A superb encounter between two very evenly matched sides went the way of the Warrington Wizards 22-14 against Bramley Buffaloes in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National at a sun drenched Wilderspool Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides served up a feast of top quality action that kept the large crowd enthralled throughout with big hits and barn storming runs a very frequent sight for the appreciative supporters.

Bramley opened the scoring in the second minute with a penalty goal from stand off Paul Drake, but then strong defence on both sides cancelled each others attacking chances out.

The Buffaloes had second row Danny Johnson sin binned midway through the half for holding down on his own line, and the Wizards took a quick tap and loose forward Alan Reddecliff went over for a try. Stand off Chris Mellor added the conversion.

The visitors hit back three minutes later when a cracking inside ball from scrum half Kevin Till put second row John Elliker through a huge gap to score under the posts to give Drake the simplest of conversions to put his side back in front.

The Wizards responded on the half hour when great play down the left by substitute Jono Smith saw him combine with winger Ian Stephenson to put scrum half Warren Ayres away to score. Mellor converted from the left of the posts.

Two minutes before the break the Wizards had second row Andy Addison sin binned for punching, but right on the stroke of half time Smith went out wide and found Reddecliff who managed to hold the ball up in the tackle before finding substitute Billy Sheen in support to score and give his side a 16-8 interval advantage.

Wizards stretched their lead nine minutes into the second half when fine play close to the Bramley line saw substitute Matt Clarke power over under the posts, Mellor converted but then the Buffaloes got the ball back straight from the kick off and then a further penalty put them in the Wizards twenty metre area and Till broke through to score under the posts. Drake goaled to narrow his side’s deficit to eight points.

Bramley had Drake yellow carded for dissent just after the hour, but with both teams showing tremendous tenacity in defence there was no further scoring and the Wizards were left to celebrate a magnificent and thoroughly deserved 22-14 victory that sees them maintain their 100% start to the season.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards full back David Yii. He was very well supported by Warren Ayres. Chris Mellor and Billy Sheen.

WIZARDS

David YII, Ian STEPHENSON, Danny SHAW, Matt TAYLOR, Stuart PIRRIE, Chris MELLOR, Warren AYRES, Scott DAVIDSON, Steven SMYTHE, Simon McEVOY, Andy Addison, Anthony Beckett, Alan REDDECLIFF.

Subs: Billy SHEEN, Matt CLARKE, Matt BARBER, Jono SMITH.

17th May 2008 - GATESHEAD STORM 24 WARRINGTON WIZARDS 28

Warrington Wizards continued their perfect start to The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National season when they recorded their fifth straight victory with a very hard fought 28-24 win at Gateshead Storm last Saturday.

The Wizards, missing five regulars, proved that they have strength in depth this season as they overcame a very strong Storm side who were in the game right up to the final whistle.

Gateshead opened the scoring in the eleventh minute when prop forward Matty Barron broke through the Wizards defence to score, but the Wizards hit back on the half hour when concerted pressure on the Storm line paid off as scrum half Warren Ayres found centre Danny Shaw to score. Stand off Chris Mellor added the conversion.

Two minutes before the break the Wizards increased their lead when a lovely sweeping move started by Mellor saw the ball reach centre Matt Taylor who scored in the left corner to give his side a 10-4 interval advantage.

Five minutes into the second half another fine passing movement resulted in a Wizards try. Second row Scott Davidson started the move before finding second row Andy Addison who found Shaw on his outside to score.

Gateshead responded eight minutes later when winger Gavin Houston crossed for a try that was goaled by stand off Michael Watton, but soon afterwards a lovely pass from Mellor found substitute Danny Hoyland and he had Addison in support on his inside to score. Mellor converted to restore the Wizards ten point cushion.

That lead was extended when a kick through by Wizards hooker Steven Smythe caught the Storm on the back foot and Ayres was quickest to react as he collected the ball and raced twenty metres to score. Mellor tagged on the extras.

Gateshead got themselves back into the game on the hour when centre Graham Stephenson intercepted a stray Wizards pass and raced fifty metres to score at the side of the posts and give Watton a simple conversion, and then almost immediately good play by the Storm created an overlap for substitute Robert Roxborough to go over and narrow the gap to six points.

Mellor steadied the Wizards nerves with a penalty goal to stretch the lead to eight points, but Gateshead again came roaring back and substitute Rhys Clarke scored five minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish, but the Wizards were in no mood to let the game slip and held on for a worthy 28-24 success.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards centre Danny Shaw. He was well supported by Simon McEvoy, Anthony Beckett and Warren Ayres.

WIZARDS

Paul WILSON, Ian STEPHENSON, Danny SHAW, Matt TAYLOR, Stuart PIRRIE, Chris MELLOR, Warren AYRES, Simon McEVOY, Steven SMYTHE, Gary HEWITT, Scott DAVIDSON, Andy ADDISON, Anthony BECKETT.

Subs: David ROLT, Danny HOYLAND, Simon WESTON, Matt BARBER.

9th May 2008 - WARRINGTON WIZARDS 66 EAST LANCASHIRE LIONS 6

Warrington Wizards turned on the style under the Wilderspool floodlights on Friday evening when they defeated East Lancashire Lions 66-6 in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National.

A dominant display from the Wizards saw them run in twelve tries as they recorded their fourth straight victory of this season’s campaign.

The Wizards opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute when slick passing the width of the field saw the ball reach centre Danny Shaw who squeezed over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try and then shortly afterwards quick hands from hooker Steven Smythe and second row Anthony Beckett enabled winger Ian Stephenson to waltz over. Stand off Chris Mellor landed the conversion.

On twenty four minutes the Lions had Simon Fleming sin binned for punching, and his fellow prop forward Stuart Quayle, who had just been substituted, was red carded for running onto the field to get involved.

From the resultant penalty a short ball from centre Matt Taylor put Stephenson over in the left corner and four minutes later a superb long ball from scrum half Warren Ayres, that cut out three Lions defenders, found Shaw who raced clear to score in the right corner. Mellor added the conversion to the latter with a superb touchline effort.

Five minutes before the break good work by Stephenson saw him put substitute Paul Wilson over to give the Wizards a commanding 24-0 half time lead.

Wizards full back David Yii and Lions loose forward Paddy O’Grady were sin binned seven minutes into the second half after a flare up, and from the penalty a short ball from Wizards substitute Billy Sheen found Beckett who raced forty metres to score and then a lovely ball from Ayres put loose forward Alan Reddecliff through a gap and he went fifty metres to score under the posts. Mellor added both conversions.

The visitors were rewarded for their efforts just before the hour when hooker Craig Kaye burrowed over from acting halfback after substitute Darren Greenwood had been held just short. Winger Mark Pemberton added the conversion.

The Wizards responded when Stephenson completed his hat trick from close range, and then Ayres forced his way over under the posts before a lovely pass from Taylor put Wilson over. Mellor converted all three tries to make the score 54-6.

Yet another fine move by the Wizards was rewarded when Taylor went over under the posts to give Mellor a simple conversion and the scoring was completed five minutes from time when a superb break down the middle by prop forward Matt Clarke split the Lions defence and he found Yii in support to go over. Mellor’s goal rounded off a fine 66-6 victory for the in-form Wizards.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards prop forward Matt Clarke. He was very well supported by Simon McEvoy, Danny Shaw, Ian Stephenson and Chris Mellor.

WIZARDS

David YII, Ian STEPHENSON, Danny SHAW, Matt TAYLOR, Stuart PIRRIE, Chris MELLOR, Warren AYRES, Matt CLARKE, Steven SMYTHE, Simon McEVOY, Jono SMITH, Anthony BECKETT, Alan REDDECLIFF.

Subs: Billy SHEEN, Paul WILSON, Matt BARBER, Gary HEWITT.

26th April 2008 - FEATHERSTONE LIONS 22 WARRINGTON WIZARDS 50

Warrington Wizards produced a stunning performance to outclass reigning champions Featherstone Lions on their own pitch in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference last Saturday afternoon.

The Wizards were in majestic form running in eleven tries and would have won by an even bigger margin if they hadn’t missed eight conversion attempts.

Featherstone opened the scoring in the tenth minute when a fine passing movement saw the ball reach prop forward John Smith who went over to the left of the posts. Winger Richard Frankland added the conversion.

The Wizards hit back five minutes later when several players combined to put stand off Chris Mellor into space and he found second row Jono Smith who scored, and they then took the lead on twenty five minutes when a quick tap penalty caught the Lions on the back foot and the ball was moved across the line for loose forward Alan Reddecliff to score on his debut.

Almost immediately the Wizards stretched their lead when good work from Smith saw him find fellow second row Matt Taylor who dummied his way through to score, but then on the half hour Featherstone second row Craig Barker went over for a try and Frankland’s goal levelled the scores at 12-12.

The Wizards hit the front once again five minutes from the break when Reddecliff found Mellor in space and he passed onto scrum half Warren Ayres who in turn found winger Stuart Pirrie in support to race through and score. Ayres added the conversion to give his side a six point cushion, but that was reduced right on the half time whistle when Lions centre Steve Crowe crossed to reduce his sides deficit to just two points at the interval.

Four minutes into the second half Wizards substitute Billy Sheen and Ayres combined superbly to send Mellor storming through to score despite having three defenders on his back, and then a great break down the middle from substitute Anthony Beckett split the Lions defence and he found winger Ian Stephenson who raced away to score under the posts. Ayres converted on both occasions as the Lions were reduced to twelve men with Barker receiving his marching orders.

The Wizards continued to dominate and on the hour a lovely ball from Beckett found Sheen in support to go over and then two minutes later a kick down field by Mellor bounced kindly for Taylor who collected to score before a fine pass from centre Danny Shaw put Smith over for his second try to make the game safe at 42-16.

Smith returned the favour five minutes later when his run down the right caused havoc in the Lions defence and he put Shaw in at the corner, and the half century was brought up when Reddecliff scored in the left corner after Ayres had been held just short.

The home side gained a consolation try two minutes from time when winger Clifton Richardson collected a long kick and found centre Byron Cooper who scored. Frankland goaled to complete the scoring as the Wizards recorded a magnificent 50-22 victory.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards second row Jono Smith. He was very well supported by Alan Reddecliff, Chris Mellor and Anthony Beckett.

After the game Wizards joint player/coaches Chris Mellor and Matt Wilson were absolutely delighted with the manner of their side’s win. Mellor said, “That was one of our best ever performances. All seventeen players did what we asked of them and it paid off handsomely. We dug deep in the first half and ground out a narrow advantage, but then in the second half we really turned the screw and played some exciting attacking rugby. To score eleven tries at the home of the defending champions is no mean feat and hopefully we can continue in the same vein next time out.”

Wilson added, “It was great to be part of such a team effort. We know that we have plenty of talent in our squad and we went out and proved it. We have worked really hard in training over the past fortnight and the results of that were there for all to see. We feel that we can still improve further and we look forward to our next game.”

The only down side for the Wizards was an injury suffered by Wilson who broke two ribs and popped his rib cartilage midway through the second half which is likely to keep him out for four weeks.

WIZARDS

David YII, Ian STEPHENSON, Danny SHAW, Matt WILSON, Stuart PIRRIE, Chris MELLOR, Warren AYRES, Scott DAVIDSON, Steven SMYTHE, Simon McEVOY, Jono SMITH, Matt TAYLOR, Alan REDDECLIFF.

Subs: Billy SHEEN, Andy ADDISON, Anthony BECKETT, Gary HEWITT.

12th April 2008 - DEWSBURY CELTIC 14 WARRINGTON WIZARDS 24

Warrington Wizards gained their second successive The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National win of the season with a very hard fought 24-14 victory away at Dewsbury Celtic last Saturday afternoon.

The Wizards opened the scoring in the eighth minute when a good long ball from scrum half Warren Ayres found centre Matt Wilson in space and he cut back inside to score to the left of the posts.

Shortly after the midway point of the half the Wizards were temporarily reduced to twelve men when prop forward Luke Worsley was sin binned for an infringement in the tackle and whilst he was off Dewsbury opened their account with a penalty goal from winger James Eatherley after the Wizards were caught offside in front of their own posts, but then almost immediately the Wizards went back on the attack and on the last tackle the ball went down the blind side and some slick passing enabled centre Danny Shaw to squeeze over in the right hand corner.

Three minutes before the break a lovely inside ball from Ayres found Wilson coming back on an angle to power over under the posts. Stand off Chris Mellor converted to give his side a deserved 14-2 half time advantage.

The Wizards moved further ahead four minutes into the second half when a good ball from substitute Billy Sheen found Wilson out wide and his inside ball found full back David Yii who managed to duck under an attempted tackle to score in the left corner.

Dewsbury got themselves back into the game four minutes later when good play by centre Paul Gleadhill put full back Terry Maun away and he drew the cover towards him before passing back to Gleadhill who scored under the posts and then stand off Rob Senior created a huge gap for himself and stepped through it to score at the side of the posts. Eatherley goaled on both occasions to reduce the Wizards lead to just four points at 18-14.

Both sides were reduced to twelve men on the hour when Wizards second row Scott Davidson and Celtic hooker Joe Waters were dismissed after a flare up and three minutes after that Wilson was sin binned for dissent to leave the Wizards with eleven men, but strong defending kept the home side at bay and a penalty from Mellor edged them six points clear.

The scoring was completed in the final minute when Wilson made a great run down the right and slipped the ball to Shaw who scored in the right corner to complete a 24-14 win.

The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards full back David Yii. He was very well supported by Jono Smith and Simon McEvoy.