Warrington Wizards 16 Hemel Stags 36

WARRINGTON Wizards suffered a disappointing defeat to Hemel Stags in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference National on Sunday afternoon in glorious sunshine at Wilderspool Stadium.

There was not much to split the sides in a tough opening half, but the Stags had much the better of the second half to run out very worthy winners against a Wizards side that had looked as though it was returning to form over the past couple of weeks.

The Wizards opened the scoring in the seventh minute when a good interchange of passing between stand of Alan Kilshaw and full back Chris Campbell created room for second row Scott Davidson to score wide out on left.

Scrum half Warren Ayres converted but six minutes later Hemel replied when a short ball from scrum half Brendan Williams found centre Jared Searson and he broke through the line with speed to score in the left corner.

The Stags took the lead just after the midway point of the half when the inspirational Williams went on his own from first receiver on the last tackle and stepped round the Wizards defence to score under the posts.

Full back Barry-John Swindells added the conversion but then Hemel knocked on from the restart and Ayres went on his own down the blind side straight from the scrum to score in the left corner.

He landed a superb touchline conversion to restore the Wizards advantage.

The lead changed hands once again on the half hour when a fine pass from Williams put Swindells through a gap and he found prop forward Dean Campbell in support on his inside to score under the posts.

Swindells added on the goal points to give his side a four point cushion at half time.

Hemel increased their lead three minutes into the second half when a forty metre break by Campbell split the Wizards defence and centre Chris Pomfret and Swindells moved the Stags to within ten metres of the Wizards line and a quick play the ball saw an overlap for Campbell to go over on the left.

The Wizards responded thirteen minutes later when a fifty metre break down the middle by loose forward Matt Wilson split the Hemel defence and with then struggling to get back in line a long ball from Ayres found Davidson who used his strength to score in the left corner.

The Stags regained the ascendancy just after the hour mark when stand off Scott Clendenning-Fenton combined with his half back partner Williams to put Swindells through a gap to score and then quick hands out wide saw second row Tim Stevens score in the left corner.

Loose forward John Weber took over the kicking duties to land both conversions.

The visitors ensured that the Wizards would not gain a consolation bonus point three minutes from time when straight from a scrum in the Wizards twenty metre area the ball went down the blind side to Searson who scored in the left corner to complete a thoroughly deserved 36-16.

Best for the Wizards were second row Scott Davidson, scrum half Warren Ayres and loose forward Matt Wilson.

Wizards: Chris Campbell, Troy Alison, John Welch, Ian Pirrie, Adam Gorman, Alan Kilshaw, Warren Ayres, Gareth Barron, Billy Sheen, Matt Calrke, Scott Davidson, Darren Forshaw, Matt Wilson. Subs: Hayden James, Mike Grady, Scott Cullen, Mike Leicester.

The coach for Saturday’s game leaves the Village Hotel at 9am. Contact Nikki on 01925 837829 to book a place.