Wizards Over Power the Buffaloes
After a 45 minute delay to kick off due to accidents on the M62, the game understandably got off to a slow start with both teams testing each other out.
The first opportunity came the way of the Buffaloes on 8 minutes when standoff Craig Lovelock put a neat kick through that was knocked on over the try line.
The points came in the 23rd minute, when Craig Middlemore slipped through the bramley defence to score, with the try converted by Graham Healey.
The Buffaloes responded 3 minutes later when player/coach Craig Lingard was put over in the corner following come neat hands, Simon Lindsay missed the conversion from the touchline, leaving the score 4-6.
On the half hour mark, Mike Leicester scored the second Wizards Try, again converted by Healey, Making the score 4-12.
With the last play of the first half, following a scrum 35 metres out from the Buffaloes line, Scrum Half Graham Harrison put in a high kick, which fooled the Wizards defence and Full Back Corey Challenger pounced upon to sprint 25 metres for a try under the post, with Lindsay converting, closing the score up at half time to 10-12.
Wizards winger Middlemore scored the opening try of the second half on 48 minutes, but with no conversion, the lead was back out to 6 points, 10 -16.
In the 51st Minute a serious looking injury to Lingard, meant him leaving the field, 7 minutes later winger Andrew Staniland barged his way over for a try, converted by Harrison, levelling the scores at 16 all.
Three minutes later Harrison himself was over for a try, this time converted by Lindsay, and the buffaloes were in front for the first time in the match, making the score 22-16
For the next ten or so minutes both teams looked for the killer blow to finish the game off and the Wizards took advantage of some poor buffaloes defence for Man of the Match Alcock to score his first try in the 73rd minute, converted by Healey, levelling the scores at 22 all.
Two minutes later Alcock was over again after a kick bounced kindly into his hands, again converted by Healey, giving the Wizards the lead again 22-28.
The final Wizards try came in the 78th Minute when Centre Paul Reynolds scored, making the score 22-32.
The final few minutes were frantic with the Buffaloes trying to get themselves back into the game, but this wasn’t to be.
Game Breaker: The Brace of Tries from Warrington Man of the Match, Paul Alcock, in the last ten minutes, broke the Buffaloes hearts
Game Star: Alan Reddecliff was at the heart of everything that the Wizards did.
Bramley Buffaloes:
1) Corey Challenger, 2) Andrew Staniland, 3) Aaron Blake, 4) Simon Lindsay, 5) Brett Hallas, 6) Craig Lovelock, 7) Graham Harrison, 8) James Woods, 9) James Bell, 10) Dominic Liversidge, 11) Graham Nash, 12) Tom Langton, 13) James Smith, Subs (All Used); 14) Craig Lingard, 15) Anthony Mills, 16) Dave Parker, 17) Richard Greenwood
Tries: Craig Lingard (26), Corey Challenger (39), Andrew Staniland (58), Graham Harrison (61)
Goals: Graham Harrison (1/1), Simon Lindsay (2/3)
Warrington Wizards:
1) Graham Healey, 2) Craig Middlemore, 3) Paul Reynolds, 4) Ryan Jones, 5) Christian Taylor, 6) Alan Reddecliff, 7) Danny Gregory, 8) Dan Crampton, 9) Hayden James, 10) Christain Froggatt, 11) Craig Woolvine, 12) Martyn Bradshaw, 13) Paul Alcock, Subs (All Used); 14) Warren Ayres, 15) Ian Stephenson, 16) Dan Stubbs, 17) Mike Leicester
Tries: Craig Middlemore (23, 48), Mike Leicester (31), Paul Alcock (73, 75), Paul Reynolds (78)
Goals: Graham Healey (4/6)
Men of the Match
Buffaloes – Craig Lovelock
Wizards – Paul Alcock
Referee – John Lowery
Half time 10-12