Warrington Wolves Reserves 24 Leeds Rhinos Reserves 22

Leeds Rhinos Reserves’ season came to a cruel end at Victoria Park as a late penalty goal from Patrick Irwin saw Warrington Wolves defeat Chev Walker’s side 24-22 in the semi-finals.

Having lost out to the Wolves twice over the course of the season, the Rhinos showed determination not to let this game be third time lucky as they constructed a strong first 40 minutes. A lively start saw both sides have opportunities within scoring range, before Leeds were the first to suffer a major setback – Marcus Qareqare leaving the field with a concussion. With their opponents reshuffling whilst defending their own try line, Warrington took advantage as Daniel Coop and Patrick Irwin combined to drop a grubber kick in behind for James Duffy to get the first points of the game.

Unlike meetings this season that have seen the Wolves post multiple tries at will, Leeds rallied to pull back a try of their own. Helped by a knock-on by James Fallon, Leeds’ spine of Fergus McCormack, Harry Smith and Harley Thomas stalked their opponents’ 20-metre area and forced a second consecutive set when Smith’s kick ahead for Stead saw Josh Smith intervene. At a second time of asking, the young Rhinos found the answer to resolute defending by the home side as Elliott Fox craftily darted out of dummy half and burrowed his way to get the ball down. Thomas’ conversion pushed the Rhinos into the lead by a narrow two points.

Warrington tried to find a response when Charlie McKler bundled his way close, but Leeds’ quick counter-attacking and ill-discipline proved tricky for Ryan O’Brien’s side to handle. A searching pass by Fergus McCormack was fortunate not to be taken cleanly by James Duffy as the centre tried to intercept the pass, but the Leeds full back made up for the close call as he drove through three tackles to get the ball over the line on a second attempt.

No sooner had they got one try back, the young Rhinos had worked themselves into a comfortable lead thanks to the try-scoring efforts of Oscar Brown. The winger was the architect of the attack as he broke from deep, only for support player Fox to be caught short. Knowing their opponents were scrambling, the Leeds spine linked up again to put Brown in enough space to work his way to the try line. Thomas converted one of two tries to make the score 16-4.

There was chance for a Warrington response with half-time in sight as the home side began to swing the game back in their favour. Irwin’s clever kick pinned Leeds in their own in-goal area, but the away side were lucky Ewan Smith couldn’t find a way through as their goal line defence held firm. Using their bench options of Leyton Haddrell, Isaac Reid and Isaac Holdsworth – two of whom featured in the Academy clash between the sides seven days ago – the Wolves started to find quick plays of the ball, and after Haddrell tried a dart out of dummy half, McKler bulldozed his way through to make the score 16-10 at the break.

The change in weather conditions throughout the second half matched the mood of the contest from a Leeds perspective as the introduction of rain matched Warrington’s rise back into the contest.

A poor start was punished by the home side who, after forcing Harry Smith to kick from within his own in-goal area, put McKler over for his second of the game thanks to good handling by Kian Stanton. Stanton and Haddrell both followed the try up with what they thought was a fourth score of the game for the Wire, only for referee Matty Clayton to deny Stanton's try and good full-back play from McCormack to halt the hooker from collecting the ball

As the rain began to fall heavier at Victoria Park and the score tied at 16-16, the contest was taking its toll as Leeds’ pack continued to shuffle with Mears slotting in at half back and Thomas moving out onto the wing. The winger almost came up with a score right away as Fergus McCormack’s half break and pass over the top found the foot of Jack Fallon before Thomas’ hands, but Jeremiah Mata’utia came up with the vital play to move the Rhinos back ahead. On their third consecutive set by the Wolves try line, Smith attacked at two slow retreating defenders before passing for Mata’utia to stretch out and score as Leeds led by six points again.

The Wolves found a response with a score out of nowhere by Lachlan Webster in what proved to be the game-breaking moment. Spurred on by the home support, Warrington had started to build their attack back up following the Mata’utia try, but were struggling to convert simple handling due to the wet ball, ending multiple chances to keep Leeds penned by their own line. Working their way out to the left, Webster took on the challenge of Hughie Tinkler, Mears and McCormack all on his own, before wrestling out of the challenge to get the ball down. With Daniel Regan out through injury, Irwin stepped up to convert from the sideline to tie the score up once again with under 10 minutes left.

Before the final whistle was called, Leeds had the perfect chance to ice the contest when Fallon knocked the restart on. Instead of settling for a potential drop goal, substitute Harvey Butterworth opted to kick ahead and chase, before landing on Webster late to see himself sent to the sin bin by referee Clayton. Even with 12 players, the chances flowed for the visitors as good attacking play saw Brown force Fallon in-goal as he chased a Smith kick ahead, before Riley Lumb opted for a drop goal. Every time, the Wolves had an answer to frantically defend, as the teams were consigned to golden point extra time.

No sooner had they kicked off for extra time, though, the Wolves were setting up for a shot at winning the game. A good set from Leeds had pinned Duffy back within his own 25-metre area, but McKler orchestrated a break to hand the home side a chance on the break. McCormack did his best to apply pressure from the full-back spot, but a high shot by Mata’utia handed Irwin a shot at goal from 40 metres out and the half-back converted to hand the Wolves the win.

Teams

Wolves

1. Lachlan Webster, 2. Jack Fallon, 16. Josh Smith, 17. James Duffy, 22. Jake Thewlis, 6. Daniel Regan, 7. Patrick Irwin, 8. Tom McKinney, 9. Ben Hartill, 10. Charlie McKler, 11. Ewan Smith, 12. Adam Holroyd, 13. Daniel Coop

Subs: 14. Leyton Haddrell, 15. Kian Stanton, 19. Isaac Reid, 20. Isaac Holdsworth (18^th Man – 4. Tommy Rhodes)

Tries: Duffy (8), McKler (35, 45), Webster (73)

Goals: Regan 0/1, Irwin 3/3

Penalty Goals: Irwin 1/1

Rhinos

1. Fergus McCormack, 2. Oscar Brown, 3. Marcus Qareqare, 4. Ned McCormack, 5. Riley Lumb, 6. Harley Thomas, 7. Harry Smith, 8. Joe Butterfield, 9. Elliott Fox, 10. Jeremiah Mata’utia, 11. Oliver Smart, 12. Jacob Stead, 13. Tom Nicholson-Watton

Subs: 14. Harvey Butterworth, 15. Brennan Townend, 16. Jack Mears, 17. Hughie Tinkler (18^th Man – Dylan Hutchinson)

Tries: Fox (12), F.McCormack (23), Brown (27), Mata’utia (61)

Goals: Thomas 3/4

Sin Bin: Butterworth (74 – Late contact)