Warrington RUFC...3

Birkenhead Park...6

(Match abandoned after 48 minutes)

HISTORY of the wrong kind was made at Bridge Lane when the referee abandoned the game eight minutes into the second half, following the sin-binning of Birkenhead Park's prop forward.

The visitors immediately pleaded that they had no substitute front row players and, for reasons of apparent safety, the referee called time.

However, the man in the middle was wrong, say Warrington chiefs, and the game should have continued with uncontested scrums.

At this point in the game Warrington looked likely to cause upset to the unbeaten League leaders, at 6-3 down but with a penalty awarded in front of Park's posts.

Birkenhead Park had dominated the first 20 minutes of the game and gained a 6-0 lead but Warrington hit back with a penalty and the best move of the game which saw Hamish Potts dragged into touch inches short of the line.

The early finish left a lot of frustrated players and supporters with Warrington claiming a moral victory, but, unfortunately, not the two points to make them joint League leaders. Warrington are appealing against the referee's decision.

Warrington start the Cup trail with a Lancashire Trophy home fixture against De L Salle on Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm.

Warrington Seconds tired in the last quarter of the game and went down by 41-12 against a young, slick Liverpool/St Helens team. 'Rocky' Turner scored both Warrington tries.