Warrington’s senior team continued their Liverpool & District campaign when Chester visited Great Sankey. Warrington fielded an 11 strong team, a mixture of youth and experience. Chester had the better start as Warrington defended the deep end with a goal after 30 seconds of play. Chester then had a player excluded but Warrington missed the chance to go level power play still an area of weakness. Chester went onto to score two more goals and have another player excluded but again Warrington didn’t take advantage of the man up. The quarter ended 0-3 and plenty to discuss in the team talk.
A quick discussion about double marking the Chester centre forward and half bath press and a further discussion about counter attack water polo took care of the 2 minute team talk. The quarter started well as Chester had two players excluded and Warrington pulled one back with a Dave Price goal. Dave was shortly after excluded but Chester could not score and the half time score was 1-3.
The third quarter would be important and require solid defence from Warrington. The quarter started with young Tim Mainwaring being excluded but Chester were kept from scoring with some excellent defensive work with Peter Burke in goal. Warrington hit back with a goal from Addison Brown to make it 2-3. Chester had another exclusion awarded against them, but again Warrington did not convert the advantage into a goal. Towards the end of the quarter Connor Dean scored an important goal to make it 3-3 at the end of the third quarter.
The game was finely balanced but Warrington would attack the deep end in the final quarter usually an advantage. The quarter started well with a goal from Addison Brown after 15 seconds. Tom ‘the hammer’ Hadley added another goal as Warrington hit Chester on the counter attack. Warrington were then awarded a penalty but Tom Hadley hit the post and the score remained 5-3. That encouraged Chester and as Connor Dean was excluded it looked like the game could take another twist. Chester had a time out recognising how crucial the next 20 seconds of play would be. On the restart Chester scored to make it 5-4. Tom Hadley upped his game and scored his second as Chester struggled to contain him. Then another Chester player was excluded and Tom Hadley converted the man up within two seconds, making it a hat trick for Tom in one quarter and a 7-4 lead for Warrington. Just to keep it interesting Dave Price impeded a Chester player and was excluded but with only 9 seconds on the clock however the game was won. Chester converted the man up to make the final score 7-5 and an excellent victory for Warrington.
Warrington defended well in the last three quarters of the game conceding only two goals with great goal keeping from Neil Musgrove and Peter Burke. Chester finished fourth last season one place above Warrington in the L&D league so an important victory for an improving Warrington team. Warrington played two under 16 players Tom Costello and Sam Cooper who both played at least a quarter each and Tim Mainwaring 17 years playing a significant role in the game. A good investment in the furture.
Warrington’s Team included Peter Burke, Sam Cooper, Addison Brown (2), Tom Hadley (3), Dave Price (1), Connor Dean (1), Ian Musgrove, Tim Mainwaring, Tom Costello, Neil Musgrove and Andrew Burke.