Yes, we just lost this one at the death. For those that didn't come - you missed a real treat, well, in the second half at least, when Wire really got stuck in and took the game to Wigan. And there was a big crowd to watch the game in the sun with over 1100 people. Most of the forwards played really well and Joe Philbin returned to form with some very strong tackling and good quality tries. Tom Walker also was immense and looked a bit like Chris Hill does for the senior team. For the first 30 minutes or so it was a very tame Wire that turned up and promptly conceded a substantial lead to the visitors. But then we saw a bit of passion as our senior players suddenly started to take on the Wigan forwards and even started to rough them up, in fact I was convinced it was going to end in a street fight. Although the side didn't reduce the points arrears much by the end of the first half, the match seemed to change at that point and the second half was a real contest, with Wigan just managing to hang on and take the win.

I have watched a lot of U9's this year and have come to a couple of conclusions. Firstly, Wire, Wigan, Saints and Leeds academies are well ahead of the rest of the league. That may sound like good news, unfortunately I think it detracts from the preparation of the youngsters for SL. There are too many games where the offence and defence can take it easy, where teams can play at low intensity, and making errors does not get sufficiently punished. Second, and a bit more controversial I am afraid, I am not convinced our U19's are being prepared in the right manner. We lack mongrel. We give far too much space to opposition forwards and backs, thus handing them the initiative and yardage. We don't force forwards backwards in the tackle very often - tackles invariably look like those that are practiced by the team during the warm up. In short, the team looks more like an U16 side where practice at accomplishing the correct moves, field position, and body positioning in tackles is still being perfected in preparation for the next level of football. If you compare Wigan to Warrington U19, you see a side that mirrors the senior team - they look far more professional - even down to the tricks to gain that extra bit of yardage in the tackle, and conning the ref that you are being held down. Yes Wigan have far more talent to choose from than we do, but to give ourselves a chance perhaps we need to have a seamless coaching regime from the first team down through the U19's. Having said all that, I know nothing about coaching, this is simply how I see it.

Crowd was well over 1100 ................ 1550

Winslade - it's posts like that that make me wish I was back in the heartland and able to watch more rugby. Great post.

We were saying the same thing at the game, the Wigan U19s played in a very similar style to the senior side but our U19s did not have the DNA of the first team. In fact we barely saw a single offload particularly from the forwards.


Terrific high quality game though, both sets of players should take great credit and good luck to any of them moving on to other clubs or to new opportunities.

Nice one Winslade.

You see it and say it like a true and honest Rugby League supporter, Well done

How did Toby King play ?
From the little I have seen of him he looks a classy centre and one to watch.

Having said that, Warrington generally looked a lot bigger than Wigan. Is this down to age difference, different conditioning at this age, recruitment policy, or just luck? Either way I would suggest that your youth policy is about to reap its rewards.

If they looked bigger I would say it was just coincidental. There were 8 third years, four seconds and five first years in the 17 that played yesterday. Our biggest forward - Robert Holroyd, picked up a training ground injury I understand, and was replaced by Morgan Nicholas.

For those unfamiliar with U19's, Lewis Tierney who had a very good game on the wing for Wigan is the son of Jason Robinson, whilst on the bench for Warrington was Morgan Nicholas, the son of ex Wire player Mike Nicholas.

All the best to those players who will be leaving at the end of the season, particularly Ryan Maneely who has been picked for the Scotland 4 nations squad. They have been a real credit to the club and their families and been a great set of players.

It's because our academy only ever do weights and that's why all the best Warringtonian players leave and become superstars at other clubs.

Are the Philbins related to Barry or his brother who played for you in the 70s?

Barry and Mike. Yes, I had forgot about them, and Barry played BR as well. No, I [idon't think[/i Joe and Andy are related, well not directly anyway. Barry had a couple of daughters I seem to recall.

There was a Gildart and Shelford playing for Wigan as well.

It was a very strange game wasn't it. Did the teams change jerseys at half time?
For every error Wire made in the first half Wigan did the same in the second and more. I just wonder if the wind had any effect as a lot of passes went astray particularly when playing towards the seated end of the ground.

What happened on the penultimate set? It was a handover to Wigan and the next thing Wire were flinging the ball towards their right wing, no-one around us knew.

As Winslades Offload has said we need more of the other teams at this level to produce better quality players and coaches. A four team competition of Wigan, Wire, Saints and Leeds is not healthy.

Plus it should be U18's and U21/23 with three overage players allowed in that older age group.

Wigan player made a mess of playing the ball and ended-up kicking it forward to the Warrington marker.