WARRINGTON Wizards bounced back to winning ways in fine style with a ruthless performance to completely out play a valiant Nottingham Outlaws with a 54-10 victory in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National on Saturday afternoon at Wilderspool Stadium.
After the disappointment of last week’s reverse at home to Kippax Knight the Wizards were desperate to put in a positive effort and they certainly did that against a Nottingham side that showed plenty of spirit and occasional inspirational play but ultimately the Wizards had too much fire power for them.
The Wizards got off to the perfect start in the first minute when a lovely ball from loose forward Jono Smith sent centre Darren Forshaw on a forty metre break down the left and he found full back Chris Campbell in support to race over under the posts. Hooker Warren Ayres added the conversion and then eight minutes later Forshaw spotted a gap in the Outlaws defence and went on his own from acting half back to score on the left with Ayres goaling.
Warrington continued to dominate and scored again when good interchange between stand off Alan Reddecliff and J. Smith saw second row Troy Brophy score at the side of the posts, Ayres converting and then on twenty six minutes a long ball from Ayres found J. Smith who broke through the line and raced away before finding Ayres in support to score under the posts. Ayres converted himself to make the score 24-0.
Just after the half hour mark J. Smith continued to torment the Nottingham defence when he made a break before sending Campbell away. He was held just short bit a quick play the ball saw J. Smith go over on the left to give the Wizards a commanding 28-0 half time lead.
Two minutes into the second half J. Smith was held up over the line but from the play the ball slick passing along the line saw centre Dave Yii put winger Craig Middlemore over in the right corner and six minutes later a speculative kick down by Reddecliff saw Yii chase it down and kick on for Middlemore who picked up and scored on the right. J. Smith took over the goalkicking duties to add the conversion.
On the hour after Wizards winger Mike Stout had been held up over the line in the left corner, the ball was swept the width of the field for second row Paul Reynolds to go over wide out on the right and then hard working prop forward Leighton Smith powered over at the side of the posts. J. Smith converted the latter.
Almost immediately the rampant Wizards brought up the half century when Stout broke clear down the left and he found Reddecliff in support to score under the posts and give J. Smith a simple conversion but then to the visitors credit they were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude when great work by second row George Strachan down the right saw him find centre Christian Brew who cut inside superbly to score at the left of the posts. Full back Greg Moore landed the conversion.
Right on the final whistle Nottingham gained another touchdown when good work close to the Wizards line saw Brew go over in the right corner to make the final score 54-10 to the Wizards.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards loose forward Jono Smith. He was very well supported by prop forwards Leighton Smith and Dan Stubbs and second row Paul Reynolds.
Warrington Wizards welcome Welsh opposition to Wilderspool Stadium this coming Saturday when they entertain Valley Cougars in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National. Kick off is 3.30pm.
WIZARDS
Chris Campbell, Craig Middlemore, Dave Yii, Darren Forshaw, Mike Stout, Alan Reddecliff, Graham Healey, Dan Stubbs, Warren Ayres, Leighton Smith, Paul Reynolds, Troy Brophy, Jono Smith.
Subs: Liam Walsh, Shaun Gilmour, Mike Rosson, Nick Owen.
