Vale of Lune 6

Warrington RUFC 22

WARRINGTON Rugby Union Club recorded a historic victory on one of the country's most famous grounds on Saturday.

The more senior home team simply did not know what had hit them in this Lanchashire Trophy quarter-finals clash as Warrington outpowered and outplayed them.

Warrington fans can now relish the prospect of a home semi-final against arch-rivals Wigan on March 21.

Coach Kevin Greaves was full of praise for his team afterwards and said: "This was an outstanding team display.

"No-one outside of the club gave us any chance of winning up here but we have a quality side and we sensed the home team were actually frightened of us."

Vale dominated the early exchanges but they could find no way through and when Warrington swept downfield on the counter attack, Andy James slotted a 30 yard penalty goal to put them ahead.

Warrington's front row of Coleman, Park and Blohm steadily gained the upper hand and their team went further ahead when Louden and centre Matt Drinkwater broke clear before sending full back Ian Nicholson racing over for a spectacular try which James converted.

Vale kicked penalty goals either side of half-time and then threw themselves into the game for the next 30 minutes as they camped inside the Warrington half.

Ferocious tackling and excellent cover defence kept them at bay and a flash of brilliance from Drinkwater as he jinked his way through the Vale backline on a 50 yard run finally took Warrington into the opposition's 22.

From the resultant line-out, Holce caught the ball and a tremendous forward drive enabled Blohm to claim the touchdown.

In the closing seconds scrum half Gez Louden completed Vale's misery when he scampered over from a scrum and James converted.

Warrington travel to Rossendale tomorrow, Saturday, for a Thwaites League Northern Division North West Three fixture which they must win to maintain their push for promotion.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.