Wizards lose thriller

A thrilling end-to-end encounter went the way of the visitors as Valley Cougars defeated Warrington Wizards 24-37 in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National at Wilderspool Stadium.
The game was in the balance at half time as the Wizards just held the edge but they were left to rue the numerous chances that they bombed as the Cougars produced a strong second half showing to gain the vital three points that sees them replace the Wizards in the top half of the table.
The Cougars opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Loose forward Tylan Mafi was superbly held up over the line by Wizards centre Darren Forshaw but two tackles later scrum half Shaun Owens burrowed over from acting half back. Stand off Paul Emanuelli converted but the Wizards hit back nine minutes later when a quick twenty metre restart from hooker Warren Ayres found stand off Alan Reddecliff who in turn passed to second row Paul Alcock and his long ball found winger Troy Brophy who sprinted sixty metres down the left wing to score wide out. Loose forward Jono Smith added the conversion.
The Wizards went in front just before the midway point of the half when quick hands from right to left stretched the Cougars defence and centre Darren Forshaw went over wide out and then after Forshaw was held just short, Ayres dummied from acting half back and left the ball for prop forward Nick Owen who forced his way over wide out on the left.
Warrington continued to dominate and looked as though they were going to score again six minutes before the break but they dropped the ball over the try line and Cougars full back Kevin James picked up and passed to winger Danyl Davies who raced the length of the field to score on the right. Emanuelli added the conversion to make the half time score 14-12 to the Wizards.
The visitors made a great start to the second half when loose forward Tylan Mafi went on his own from acting half back and despite it looking as though he had been held up over the line the referee awarded the try in the left corner and five minutes later after Mafi had been held just short hooker Ben Thomas went on his own from acting half back to score at the side of the posts. Emanuelli added both conversions.
The Wizards were temporarily reduced to eleven men on fifty minutes when substitute Liam Walsh was sin binned for a late tackle on Emanuelli as he kicked down field and scrum half Chris Campbell yellow carded for dissent and whilst they were off Cougars made the extra men tell when the ball was sent out wide to winger Liam Watton who raced clear to score on the left. Emanuelli goaled but the Wizards hit back when they returned to the full compliment as Campbell mad e a forty metre break before finding Ayres who was held just short but a quick play the ball saw second row Paul Alcock go over under the posts. Ayres added the conversion.
Three minutes later Wizards close the gap to just six points when prop forward Shaun Gilmour forced his way over from acting half back after substitute Mike Rosson had been held just short; Cougars had second row Barrie Phillips sin binned for dissent after disputing the try but the man disadvantage didn’t affect the Cougars as they made sure that they would come away with the spoils when centre Alan Pope broke through the Wizards defence to score under the posts. Emanuelli converted and then added a drop goal to move his side thirteen points ahead and despite the Wizards then being camped in the Cougars half the referee inexplicably blew for full time early and so denied the Wizards the chance of gaining a deserved bonus point as the Welsh side finished as 37-24 victors.
Best for the Wizards were prop forward Nick Owen, centre Darren Forshaw and second row Paul Reynolds.
Wizards Assistant Coach Mike Grady said after the Valley game, “We are really disappointed to lose the game in the manner that we did. Valley through everything at us in the opening quarter of an hour and we defended brilliantly. We then scored three quick tries to put us eight points clear and things seemed really good but we then started making silly errors when in good scoring positions and this came back to haunt us. The second half saw us lose our control of the game through not respecting the ball when we was in possession and failing to do the basics right; we only have ourselves to blame. We, the coaching staff made sure the lads knew how we felt after the game and hopefully we will get a positive reaction off them in training this week.”
Grady added, “We now start a run of three successive away games with a trip to Featherstone in what is always a very tough encounter. Over the years we have had some great battles with the Lions with the games being very close. They beat us earlier in the season at Wilderspool so we certainly owe them one for that. They have plenty of quality in their side but we have a strong side as well so we can go there knowing that we are more than capable of getting the win. We will be working very hard during the week to make sure that we are in the best possible shape to get the win that would see us get back into the play off places.”
The Wizards travel to Featherstone Lions on Saturday in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National. The coach leaves The Village Hotel at 11.15am for any supporters wishing to travel. Please contact Nikki Whalley on 01925 837829 to secure your place.