By Guy Harvey

Mark Butterill and his staff travelled to Cheshire for their final game of the season looking to make it eight wins from eight games, however they were met by a Warrington side that certainly weren’t going to lay down and make it easy.

It certainly could have been so different in the first moments when stand off Jack Mears charged down an early kick from Warrington but as he chased the ball his first touch to kick it further ahead didn’t go as planned and the bounce of the ball took away from him and into the arms of the rushing Warrington full back.

However, on the next set Leeds couldn’t regather the grubber kick sent through by the Wolves giving the home side a scrum ten metres out from the Rhinos try line. The home side certainly understood they had to take advantage of their opportunities and seconds later crashed over from close range to take the lead.

The home side were ferocious and soon forced Leeds to have a drop out taking the Leeds full back back from open field to the in goal, their efforts in defence were almost rewarded moments later when they had looked to have scored again but the referee called a knock on and gave possession to the Rhinos.

Just as Warrington were looking to take a stronghold of the game prop Isaac Holdsworth was given ten minutes in the sin bin for late tackle on Jack Mears which left the half back winded but not enough to make him leave the field. Leeds then forced an error from the Wolves which gave them a full set of tackles just inside the home side’s half but just couldn’t get over Warrington’s try line.

But with Warrington back to a full thirteen they started where they had left off and extended their lead when full back Samuel Dickenson took the inside pass before stepping past the final Rhinos defender to score the try and with the conversion from Ewan Irwin Warrington had a 12-0 lead with half time looming.

The home side were hooping the half time hooter wouldn’t sound and before it did Leeds were put too twelve men when second row forward Cobi Ellis was sent to the sin bin for ten for a tip tackle and with the extra man Warrington made it count before half time when stand off Ewan Irwin spotted the space he delivered the chip over the top which allowed winger Alex Wilson to race through and score.

Warrington looked to score early on in the second half when they almost broke through the Rhinos defence but when the young scholars needed some inspiration Zak Lloyd stepped forward taking a great interception and racing fifty metres before being tackled but relieving a lot of pressure. Leeds then looked to score when dummy half Noah Lunn attempted to squirrel over but the home sides defence kept him held up.

Leeds was looking strong in defence and managed to force another error from Warrington as they knocked on coming away from their own line but just as Leeds looked to take advantage of the field position Warrington made their own interception and raced away only to be brought down just passed halfway. But with Leeds back to full strength they finally got on the score sheet with second row forward Zak Lloyd charging through the Warrington defence before stepping the waiting full back to score the four pointer and with Wade White converting the try the score was 16-6 and Leeds were back in the game.

But Leeds’ were dashed minutes later when the bizarrest of penalty tries were given, the home side looked to have knocked the ball on in the attempt of scoring the try but after the referee had a chat with his touch judge he gave a penalty try. However, Leeds still had fight left in them and with the home side looking tired Wade White spotted a gap in the defence and put the grubber kick through only to regather the ball, step the full back and score under the post, which he then converted and put the score to 24-12.

But it was to much work to be done and the game finished 24-12 bringing the scholarship season to an end and unfortunately the unbeaten record was gone.

Warrington Wolves Scholarship

1. Samuel Dickenson
   
2. Harry Knight
   
3. Alfie Poles
   
4. Bailey Lund
   
5. Alexander Wilson
   
6. Ewan Irwin
   
7. Thomas Rhodes
   
8. Isaac Holdsworth
   
9. Leyton Haddrell
   
10. Maxwell Bateson
    
11. Oliver Bishop
    
12. Lewis Daniels
    
13. Thomas Marshall
    
14. Coby Doyle
    
15. Brady Bottomley
    
16. Lucas Roper
    
17. Noel Rafferty
    
18. Ellis Livesey
    

Leeds Rhinos Scholarship

1. Wade White
   
2. Jack Smith
   
3. Jacob Tooala
   
4. Sonny Hetherington
   
5. Tom Richardson
   
6. Jack Mears
   
7. Seth Marchant
   
8. Robin Smith
   
9. Noah Lunn
   
10. Daniel Stelfox
    
11. Zak Lloyd
    
12. Cobi Ellis
    
13. Jacob Hardy
    
14. Will Wilkinson
    
15. Brennan Townend
    
16. Connor Laurie
    
17. Dacx Jones-Buchanan
    
18. Ryan Hosier
    
19. Sam Holdroyd
    Will Hunter