WARRINGTON returned to winning ways in style on Saturday by toppling one of their league’s high-flyers.

They welcomed second-placed Didsbury Toc H to Stockton Lane having lost three of their last four matches, but were never behind in an enthralling contest.

Stuart Beeley’s side repelled some late pressure from the visitors to win 25-20 to close the gap on their opponents in the table to just two points

They now sit third in the Counties One Lancashire & Cheshire, six points behind leaders Liverpool St Helens, whom they host in their next fixture on Saturday.

After the visitors knocked on from the kick off, a solid scrum and steady phase play eventually led to Jack Stride bursting through tackles to touch down, with Matt Beeley converting.

Beeley then added a penalty either side of two successful Didsbury kicks to ensure Warrington led 13-6, but the visitors’ first try brought the scores level and they even missed a penalty which would have taken them into a three-point half-time lead.

Warrington started the second half on the front foot and were eventually rewarded 15 minutes into it.

After centre Kieron Hughes made an excellent break to put them in a good position, scrum-half Tom Wood dived over from close range and Beeley’s conversion put them seven points ahead again.

Back came the visitors again and a try from a close-range scrum levelled matters again at 20-20 as the game moved into the final minutes.

Josh Riley then grabbed what proved to be the winning try for Warrington – receiving the ball from Max Caldwell just inside the opposition half, the second rower handed off four would-be tacklers to run in a magnificent try.

The conversion was missed, however, to set up a tense final period and Didsbury looked as though they would capitalise as they laid siege to the Warrington line.

Inexplicably, however, they conceded a penalty for taking out a defender and that proved to be the final play as the hosts held on for a well-earned victory.

Team: J Ward, C White, S Bennett, G Percival, J Riley, J Evans, A Kellett, D Flemming; T Wood, M Beeley; J Rigby, J Stride, J Abram, L Turner, M Caldwell. Subs: J Whittaker, J Brazendale, K Hughes