WARRINGTON Wizards continued to apply the pressure on Hemel Stags at the top of Conference Three with a 56-12 win over South Wales Hornets at Wilderspool Stadium.
Paul Reynolds scored a hat trick to help the Wizards to a comfortable win, and he was backed up by Paul Alcock and James Rosson who both scored two tries each.
South Wales made the four hour trip up north, and were never really in the contest despite scoring a try with the Wizards only 18 points ahead.
The game started badly for the Hornets as Dafydd Hellard couldn’t control the Wizards’ kick off, allowing the ball to run dead inside his own in-goal.
The Hornets held off a set of six on their own line, but an error from Liam Wotton gave the home side possession deep in their own half.
Ian Stephenson provided Dan Crampton with an inside ball in the resulting set of six, allowing the Wizards prop to burst over from short distance, Graham Healey converted.
Christian Francis’ knock on was picked up by the Wizards who played the advantage. From the resulting set of six, Paul Alcock touched down from close range and Healey added the conversion.
Hayden James caught the markers asleep for the Wizards’ third try of the afternoon, and raced away to find team mate Paul Reynolds in support. Reynolds completed the play touching down under the posts to give Healey a simple conversion.
South Wales got on the score board after an error from the Wizards. Graham Healey kicked the ball out on the full from his own half, giving the Hornets field possession. Ian Newbury’s offload to Aaron Atkin from the next set was enough to break the Wizards’ defence. Mike Hurley added on the goal points.
Warren Ayres made a 50 metre break just as the game was settling down with the Wizards 18-6 ahead. He was brought down 10 metres from the try line, and from the next play the ball was thrown to the right side.
Troy Brophy thought he had scored, but referee Sam Ansell adjudicated he had made a second movement before grounding the ball. From the penalty, the Hornets couldn’t find touch and James Rosson scored his first try in the corner.
From the restart the Hornets kicked the ball out on the full, and Paul Alcock waltzed through the Hornets defensive line to score his second try of the afternoon as the Wizards made their way downfield. Healey goaled to make the half time score 28-6 to the Wizards.
The Hornets opened the scoring in the second half as Karl Jones’ chip kick was collected by Rob Davies. Davies skilfully offloaded to Liam Wotton, who had space on the left flank to score. Hurley landed the conversion.
But the Wizards quickly replied, and they kept the Hornets scoreless for the rest of the game. Graham Healey at scrum half fed the ball to Ryan Jones. Jones had the space and the pace to score himself, but safely offloaded to James Rosson allowing the winger to score his second try of the afternoon.
Later in the match Dan Crampton knocked on at the play the ball in possession, but the Wizards quickly got the ball back thanks to a shocking error from South Wales’ Mike Rowe. Rowe picked the ball up from the scrum base, but instantly dropped it allowing Paul Reynolds to collect the loose ball and sprint 40 metres to touch down under the posts with Healey converting.
Christian Taylor touched down in the left corner for the Wizards to make the scores 42-12 in the home side’s favour.
But the try of the game sealed Paul Reynolds’ hat trick, as Ryan Jones’ offload came out of the back door in the right corner close to the touchline.
Jones was on hand to set up Troy Brophy’s first try for the Wizards since the return from his BARLA tour of Jamaica. With the Wizards passing the ball from left to right, Jones popped up an inside ball for Brophy to run onto and touch down next to the posts. Healey tagged on the extras.
Dan Stubbs closed the game with a try from close range, to give the Wizards an emphatic win.
Wizards head coach Nick Owen was delighted with the win. He said: “I couldn’t have asked any more of the lads this week, everyone dug in. We knew it was going to be a tough game but we made it look very easy by the way we played.
“The main concern today was to keep out title hopes alive, and I’m speechless today with the way we played. We were absolutely outstanding.”
Owen couldn’t praise loose forward Ryan Reynolds high enough after his hat trick inspired the Wizards to the win.
Owen said: “He is very quiet in training, but as a player he can step up and possibly play Championship or Championship 1 level. He is an awesome player and a great talent to have with us.”
Warrington Wizards make the trip to Nottingham Outlaws in Conference Three on Saturday afternoon keen to back up their excellent display against South Wales Hornets. Kick off is 3.00pm and the coach leaves The Village Hotel at 10.45am for any supporters wishing to travel. Please contact Nikki Whalley on 07889 170895 to secure your place.
Warrington scorers: Tries – Dan Crampton, Paul Alcock (2), Paul Reynolds (3), James Rosson (2), Christian Taylor, Troy Brophy, Dan Stubbs. Goals – Graham Healey 6/11
South Wales scorers: Tries – Aaron Atkin, Liam Wotton. Goals – Mike Hurley 2/2
Warrington Wizards: Troy Brophy; James Rosson, Mike Stout, Ryan Jones, Christian Taylor; Ian Stephenson, Graham Healey; Dan Crampton, Hayden James, Matt Clarke; Paul Alcock, Sean Conway, Paul Reynolds. Subs: Warren Ayres, Craig Woolvine, Dan Stubbs, Christian Froggatt.
South Wales Hornets: Kevin James; Adam Wotton, Liam Wotton, Nathan Morgan, Dafydd Hellard; Ian Newbury, Karl Jones; Christian Francis, Mike Hurley, Rob Davies; Barrie Phillips, Tom Grigson, Mike Rowe. Subs: Aaron Atkin, Lewis Donnelly. (2 subs only)
