Warrington Wolves Academy...14

Hull Kingston Rovers Academy...2

WARRINGTON Wolves' Academy Rugby League team opened their 2001 season against newly promoted Hull KR in driving rain throughout the match.

The conditions promoted a battle of the forwards with the Warrington pack coming out on top.

It was 2-2 at half-time after Jimmy Williams had opened the scoring for Warrington with a fifth minute penalty. Hull KR replied two minutes later with a similar effort.

Within five minutes of the re-start Warrington went 12-2 ahead when Paul Alcock scored an unconverted try on 41 minutes and added another on 45 minutes.

Hull-born scrum half Scott Partis crossed for a try, to which Williams added the conversion.

The game then became bogged down as both sets of forwards slugged it out and there was no further score until two minutes into stoppage time when Williams kicked a penalty.

Warrington, with many new faces in the team, will be glad to have got the first game out of the way but it already looks as though they will have a very strong pack of forwards this season.

Team: Chris Malone; Chris Matthews, Anthony Kirkham, Steve Maden, Chris Gordon; Kris Tickle, Scott Partis; Luke Worsley, Jimmy Williams, Paul Alcock, Mike Callan, Tom Kilgannon, Liam McCarthy. Subs: Dave Watson, Danny Fullerton, Leon Wilde, Mike Owens.

On Saturday the team play at Castleford Tigers, kick-off 3.50pm, in the Super League curtain-raiser at The Jungle.