Last gasp win for Wizards

WARRINGTON Wizards pulled of a stunning last minute victory at Hemel Stags in The Rugby League Conference National in a very hard fought encounter that could have gone either way.
The patched up Wizards, missing twelve players through injury and holiday, started very strongly and opened in a commanding lead in the first half hour and following a stirring fightback from the home side that saw them level in the closing stages it was the Wizards who were celebrating at the end when Nick Owen landed a magnificent last minute drop goal.
Warrington opened the scoring after nine minutes when a great ball from loose forward Owen put second row Paul Alcock through a huge gap to score an unconverted try on the left and eight minutes later good work by hooker Hayden James put the Wizards close to the Hemel line and a quick play the ball saw Alcock go over for his second try at the side of the posts. Owen added the conversion.
The Wizards continued to dominate and just before the half hour some fine play from the inspirational Alcock saw him offload brilliantly to prop forward Dan Stubbs who crashed over wide out and then two minutes later second row Troy Brophy made a great sixty metre break down the middle that split the Stags defence and he found stand off Chris Campbell in support to race over under the posts. Owen added both goals to give the Wizards a deserved 22-0 lead.
The already under strength Wizards suffered a couple more injuries that stretched them even further and it was no surprise that Hemel managed to get themselves back into the game in the closing minutes of the first half. Firstly a last tackle power play saw prop forward Illija Radan go through a huge gap to score on the right and then straight from the kick off the ball was sent along the line and centre Mitch Henderson managed to break through the Wizards line and race over under the posts. Full back Barry-John Swindells converted the latter try to make the half time score 22-10 to the Wizards.
The Wizards lead was reduced further in the first minute of the second half when close to the line a short ball from Stags hooker Alex Kennedy cannoned off a Wizards defender and into the grateful hands of substitute Adam Hill who scored, Swindells converting to make his sides deficit just six points.
The next half hour was a real arm wrestle with the busted Wizards players putting their bodies on the line in admirable fashion to keep the fired up Stags at bay but six minutes from time Hemel managed to puncture the weary Wizards line when prop forward James Howitt powered over from close range. Swindells converted to level the scores at 22-22 and set up a grandstand finish.
In the final minute the Wizards managed to get the ball in the Hemel half and Owen, hardly able to move with a bad neck injury, came back onto the field and coolly slotted over a forty metre drop goal, then promptly left the pitch again, to nudge the Wizards back in front and then despite there still being time for the Stags to attempt their own drop goal to snatch a draw it went sailing wide and the Wizards were left to savour a very courageous and thoroughly deserved 23-22 victory.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Wizards captain Paul Alcock. He was very well supported by Carl Lloyd, Hayden James and Nick Owen.
The Wizards are on their travels once again this coming Saturday when they play Coventry Bears in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National. The coach leaves The Village Hotel at 10.15am for any supporters wishing to travel. Please contact Nikki Whalley on 01925 837829 to secure your place.

WIZARDS
Carl Lloyd, Ryan Cosgrove, Darren Forshaw, Liam Walsh, Craig Middlemore, Chris Campbell, Graham Healey, Dan Faulkner, Hayden James, Dan Stubbs, Paul Alcock, Troy Brophy, Nick Owen.

Subs:Taylor Wheat, Jordan Unsworth, Mike Rosson, John Morley.