Round 8 Warrington Wizards vs Hemel Stags:

HEMEL STAGS 36 WARRINGTON WIZARDS 16 – Pennine Way

Hemel maintained their pursuit of Bramley at the top, staying four points behind the leaders as they ended Warrington’s of consecutive wins.

There was not much to split the sides in a tough opening half but the Hertfordshire club had much the better of the second half to run out very worthy winners against a Wizards side that had looked as though it was returning to form.

Wizards opened the scoring in the seventh minute when a good interchange of passing between stand off Alan Kilshaw and full back Chris Campbell created room for Scott Davidson to score wide out on left.

Scrum half Warren Ayres converted but six minutes later Hemel replied when a short ball from Brendan Williams found centre Jared Searson and he broke through the line at speed to score in the left corner.

Stags took the lead just after the midway point of the half when the inspirational Williams went on his own from first receiver on the last tackle and stepped round the Wizards defence to score between the posts.

Full back Barry-John Swindells added the conversion but then Hemel knocked on from the re-start and Ayres went on his own down the blind side straight from the scrum to score in the left corner.

He landed a superb touchline conversion to restore the Wizards advantage but the lead changed hands once again on the half hour when a fine pass from Williams put Swindells through a gap and he found prop Dean Campbell in support on his inside to score by the sticks, Swindells’ goal giving his side a four point cushion at half time.

Hemel increased their lead three minutes into the second half when a forty metre break by Campbell split the Wizards defence and centre Chris Pomfret and Swindells moved the Stags to within ten metres of the Wizards line and a quick play the ball saw an overlap for Campbell to go over on the left.

Warrington responded 13 minutes later when a 50 metre break down the middle by loose forward Matt Wilson bust the cover and with the visitors struggling to get back, a long ball from Ayres found Davidson who used his strength to score in the left corner.

The Stags regained the ascendancy just after the hour mark when stand off Scott Clendenning-Fenton combined with his half back partner Williams to put Swindells through a gap to score and then quick hands out wide saw second rower Tim Stevens score in the left corner. Loose forward John Weber took over the kicking duties to land both conversions.

The visitors ensured that the Wizards would not gain a consolation bonus point three minutes from time when straight from a scrum in the Wizards twenty metre area the ball went down the blind side to Searson who scored in the left corner to complete a thoroughly deserved victory in a match played in great spirit, the Wizards only giving away one penalty and Hemel four.


Tries: Searson (13, 77), Williams (22), Campbell (30, 43), Swindells (63), Stevens (71)
Goals: Swindells 2/4, Weber 2/3
Hemel Man of the Match: Brendan Williams
Hemels Payers Player Award:
Half time: 12-16
Referee: Neil Price