Round 27
Salford City Reds 26 l. Warrington Wolves 34

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Warrington finish season on positive note
Sat September 15, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Warrington Wolves finished on a winning note with a 34-26 victory at the Willows to cap a miserable engage Super League season for Salford City Reds.

But with Wigan Warriors avoiding defeat in their crunch game with St Helens it meant Paul Cullen's side missed out on the play-offs.

Despite that disappointment the performance of Warrington forward Lee Mitchell, who made a dream full debut, was a real positive.

Mitchell, just 18 and called into the first team due to the injury crisis at the Halliwell Jones, marked his first start for the club with a well-taken try in a highly-impressive performance from the teenager.

The Wolves were missing eight regulars through injury and also the suspended Adrian Morley but still had enough fire power to give them victory.

They looked in determined fashion straight from the kick-off and it took them less than two minutes to open their account.

Henry Fa'afili, to be released by the Wolves at the end of the season and on his way to Harlequins in 2008, took a long pass from Lee Briers and crashed over for his 21st try of the season despite the attentions of three Salford defenders.

Salford drew level after 14 minutes when, after an initial break from John Wilshere, Malcolm Alker and David Hodgson combined to send former Warrington winger Richie Barnett over in the corner.

The Wolves regained the lead midway through the half when Chris Bridge stepped his way through the Salford cover to touch down and Briers converted to give his side a 10-4 advantage.

But Bridge immediately turned from hero to villain when he fumbled the restart and straight from the resulting scrum Jordan Turner took advantage of some poor Wolves defence to score to the right of the posts and Wilshere added the conversion.

As play flowed from end to end it was the Wolves who edged back in front when Briers re-gathered his own chip-kick over the Salford defence and then Martin Gleeson sent Ben Westwood over for his side's third try of the half.

But once again Warrington failed to hold on to the lead and five minutes later a superb crossfield kick by Stefan Ratchford allowed Barnett to go over in the corner in the corner for his second try and Wilshere's conversion put Salford in front for the first time at 16-14.

But a minute before half-time the Wolves were back in front with a debut try from teenage second-row forward Lee Mitchell, who powered his way over from close range and Briers converted to give Warrington a 20-16 interval lead.

Warrington took a grip of the game eight minutes into the second half when an excellent passing movement saw Westwood go over in the corner for his second try of the night which Briers converted, the Wolves skipper then adding a penalty to stretch the lead to 28-16.

The result was put beyond doubt after 64 minutes when giant Kiwi prop Paul Rauhihi dived over and Briers again converted to make it 34-16.

Salford did have the final say as they said goodbye to engage Super League as Kevin McGuiness grabbed two tries in the final three minutes to give their loyal supporters something to cheer.

Wilshere added one conversion but Michael Korkidas missed the chance to sign off in style when he missed his conversion attempt from in front of the posts.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Cullen suffers play-off agony

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