Wizards bounce back against Bears

WARRINGTON Wizards bounced back to winning ways in spectacular fashion as they defeated an in-form Coventry Bears side in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference National at Wilderspool Stadium.
Despite having a very difficult campaign this time, the reigning Champions signed off in their last home fixture with their best performance at Wilderspool of the season as they comfortably saw off a very talented Bears outfit who still harbour hopes of finishing in the top six.
The Wizards opened the scoring in the first minute when loose forward Paul Alcock made a brilliant break down the left before finding full back Craig Middlemore who raced fifty metres to score at the side of the posts. Hooker Warren Ayres converted but then a mistake from the kick off allowed the Bears to respond when straight from the scrum the ball was swept out to winger Ashley Johnson who scored in the right corner.
The end-to-end nature of the game saw chances galore for both sides and on ten minutes Wizards scrum half Chris Campbell went on his own close to the line and managed to ground the ball on the right, Ayres goaled but again the Bears hit back when pressure on the wizards line paid off when stand off Mark Sloan found Stephen Coleman and the impressive centre scored in the right corner.
Almost instantaneously the Wizards went back down the Coventry end a smart play from second row Paul Reynolds saw him break through and then offload superbly to Ayres who scored under the posts. Ayres converted his own try to give his side a thoroughly deserved 18-8 half time advantage.
Eight minutes into the second half great work close to the line by Reynolds saw him stretch over despite the attention of four defenders, Ayres converted and then four minutes later a super eighty metre break by winger tom Blaney put the Wizards deep into the Bears half and when the visitors were punished for lying-on in the tackle the ball was swept quickly from the penalty out to Reynolds who stepped round the cover to go over on the right.
The Wizards continued to ask questions of the Bears defence and they were rewarded once again when good work out wide by centre Darren Forshaw saw him find Campbell and the player/coach managed to scramble his way over in the right corner and then five minutes from time great work from stand off Alan Reddecliff and Reynolds found centre Troy Brophy at speed to power over under the posts. Ayres added the easy conversion.
The Bears were then reduced to twelve men when second row Sam Blaney was sin binned for persistent offending but right on time they gained a consolation try when Johnson pounced on a Wizards error and raced eighty metres to score under the posts. Coleman goaled but it was too little to late as the Wizards celebrated a very satisfying 38-18 victory to complete a league double over the Bears.
The Man of the Match was Wizards second row Shaun Gilmour. He was very well supported by full back Craig Middlemore, second row Paul Reynolds and loose forward Paul Alcock.
Warrington Wizards travel to Kippax Knights in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference National this coming Saturday afternoon. 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.

WIZARDS
Craig Middlemore, James Rosson, Troy Brophy, Darren Forshaw, Tom Blaney, Alan Reddecliff, Chris Campbell, Mike Rosson, Warren Ayres, Dan Stubbs, Paul Reynolds, Shaun Gilmour, Paul Alcock.
Subs: Wes Conheeney, Christian Froggatt, Dan Faulkner, Mike Leicester.