A HIGHLY promising season came to the perfect end this week for Warrington Wolves’ scholarship team.

After their end-of-season presentation night on Monday, the under 16s got to run out for the final time as a team at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Wednesday night.

They were faced with a tough task against a previously unbeaten Leeds Rhinos side but after a red-hot first half saw them lead 18-0 at the break, they held off an attempted fightback from the visitors to run out 24-12 winners.

“The Leeds game signals our last game of the season, which has been a really enjoyable season with plenty of success and learning along the way,” said the team’s head coach Paul Berry, who saw his side lose just once in their eight matches this year.

“To those players sticking around for a while longer at the club, we’re excited to see their progress continue over the coming months and years.

“And for those moving on in different directions, we wish them all the best of luck with whatever the future holds.”

In a first half in which both sides spent periods with 12 men, it was Warrington who took command as Leyton Haddrell, Sam Dickenson and Harry Knight touched down.

Ewan Irwin, who was named players’ player of the year at Monday’s presentation, added goals for all three before the visitors mounted a second-half fightback.

Zak Lloyd and Wade White scored converted efforts for the Rhinos, but The Wire were awarded a penalty try in between those efforts to keep them at arm’s length.

“A really tough game against a big physical Leeds team,” Berry said.

“The group have been working on a couple of areas since their last outing against Hull FC that we weren’t happy with and went into the Leeds game with a real focus on these areas specifically.

“In the first half, they stuck to the plan, delivered what we’d spoken about and practised and looked really comfortable with and without the ball – 18-0 was a fair reflection of the game at half time even with us spending 10 minutes being down to 12 men.

“The challenge for them at half time was to maintain that level of focus and detail.

“It was a difficult second half as the game was stop start with injuries and stoppages throughout, which meant it was difficult to find our rhythm again and string some sets together but they stuck together, worked hard and were still in control for the majority of the game.”

Wolves squad: Sam Dickenson, Harry Knight, Bailey Lund, Alexander Wilson, Ewan Irwin, Tommy Rhodes, Isaac Holdsworth, Leyton Haddrell, Maxwell Bateson, Oliver Bishop, Lewis Daniels, Tom Marshall, Alfie Poles, Coby Doyle, Brady Bottomley, Lucas Roper, Noel Rafferty, Ellis Livesey

Warrington Wolves scholarship results 2024

Bradford Bulls (H) - won 54-6

St Helens (A) - won 24-14

Hull KR (A) - lost 22-8

Wigan Warriors (H) - won 19-6

Castleford Tigers (A) - won 84-0

Hull FC (H) - drew 24-24

Wakefield Trinity (A) - won 19-18

Leeds Rhinos (H) - won 24-12