June 2002
29th June..WARRINGTON WOLVES 16 Tries: Danny Halliwell, Paul Wood, Paul Noone Goals: Lee Briers 2 Team: David Alstead, Rob Smyth, Darren Burns, Ben Westwood, Danny Halliwell, Lee Briers, Nathan Wood, Mark Hilton, Jon Clarke, Dale Laughton, Nick Fozzard, Paul Marquet, Sid Domic; Subs: Lee Penny, Paul Noone, Paul Wood, Jerome Guisset Venue: Wilderspool (Warrington) Crowd: 6,100.Half time: Wigan 23 - 0
WIGAN WARRIORS 35 Tries: Kris Radlinski 2, Jamie Ainscough 2, David Furner, Paul Johnson, Brian Carney. Goals: Julian O'Neill 6 Drop Goals: Adrian Lam 1 Team: Kris Radlinski, Brian Carney, Paul Johnson, Gary Connolly, Jamie Ainscough, Julian O'Neill, Adrian Lam, Terry O'Connor, Terry Newton, Craig Smith, Mick Cassidy, David Furner, Sean O'Loughlin; Subs: Stephen Wild, Danny Tickle, Harvey Howard, Ricky Bibey
27th June. Wire have resigned 18 year old Richie Mather from Leeds Rhinos on loan untill the end of the season,the player who was on the Wolves books as a youngster can play in any of the back positions ,a fee has already been set for the player should David Plange wish to sing him permanently at the end of the season.Wire have changed their defensive pattern for the game against Wigan, some protection is to afforded to Lee Briers to stop Wigan targeting him and to allow him to play his own game instead of trying to avoid getting taken out.Saturdays game ko 7.05 will mark the home debuts of Nathan Wood and Ben Westwood.
22nd June. LONDON 30-18 WARRINGTON Broncos defied soaring temperatures in Carcassonne in France to battle to victory over the Wolves. London led 14-2 after 27 minutes with tries from Jim Dymock and Denis Moran,who scored after a 95-metre break. Ben Westwood pulled one back but Nigel Roy's converted try stretched the lead to 14 points soon after the break. Steve Hall and Westwood then exchanged tries but Paul Sykes ran down the right for 80 metres before sealing victory. London Tries: Dymock Moran Roy Hall Sykes ;Goals: Martin (5); Warrington Westwood (2) Briers ;Goals Briers (3) H/T: 14-6 .
20th June. The Wire have another crucial weekend in front of them as a win against The London Broncos in Carcassonne will help to put a bit more daylight between them and fellow basement strugglers Wakefield and Salford who it is suggested are expected to lose against Wigan and Bradford respectively. Wire fly out to Toulouse today Thursday air traffic control permitting in confident mood after the win against Wakefield last week, and with Nathan Wood and Ben Westwood hoping to play it is an interesting time for the team which is slowly being reassembled by Coach David Plange.Warrington players performed well in the Origin game against Yorkshire and Plange will be hoping that the performances will carry on into the Broncos game, an 18 man squad is going over to France Lee Briers it is hoped will shake off a trapped nerve problem and should play.Plange will mull over whether Westwood is attuned with the squad before deciding whether he will play against London, He still needs a bit of integration with the squad before I consider him for such an important game\'94 said Plange, if Westwood is included it would be Halliwell who makes room for him Plange said Burns has played well at centre and for the past few weeks he has been our best centre, if summat aint broke you don t fix it, so I m pretty happy to leave him in place. As well as Halliwell, Appo and fit again Maden are vying for the centre spots, we have a number of backs after the same spot so they have to be consistent to get a place. Nathan Wood will start the game at scrum half with Lee Briers at stand off. "Nathan has had more than a week to acclimatise with us so he will start the game. He has fitted in really well and has improved the quality of the sessions in the was he leads the players around."Said Plange "He has good control of the organisation of the players on the pitch and that is something we have needed. "Officials in Carcassonne are hoping for a good crowd at the revamped Albert Domic Stadium 6,000 are expected most of them French in an area that loves rugby league the stadium is the home of the Canaries 10 times French Champions,the town is listed as a world heritage site and is a beautiful place to visit as wellm as the added attraction of 101 pavement cafes plus the O'Sheridan's Irish Bar is offering 10 pc off all drinks to anyone buying match tickets.Wire players will be watching England take on Brazil ko 8.30 local time in their hotel via TFI a free to air TV channel.The players travelling to France are :Alstead,Smyth,Burns, Westwood,Rivett,Briers,Wood,Laughton,Clarke,Hilton,Guiseet,Marquet,Domic,Wood(Paul),Fozzard,O'Reiily,Halliwell .
Wire expect to have a full squad to pick from when the Wolves entertain Wigan in the Televised game at Wilderspool on the 29th June forwards Busby and Sturm plus backs Lee Penny and Steve Maden should all be coming back from injury,Sturm is out of plasterand Busby is back in full training as is Lee Penny albeit on light duties.Full back Michael Watts has gone back to Chorley ,Craig McDowell on load from Bradford is still with the squad Plange said2 Craig has to work on his fitness if he wants to stay here it is something we are working out with him at the moment".
Warrington Service Area teams ended their season on a high Warrington U12's beat Salford U12's 11-6 , U14's beat Oldham U14's 28-12, and the U15's beat Salford U15's 16-4.
It is reported that a former accountant at Warrington Wolves has been charged with fraud, A.T.Gail of Ramsbottom has been charged with the theft of £207,500 from the club .He pleaded not guilty at Warrington Magistrates on Wednesday 19th June,the charges relate to an incident in October 2000,the Wire at the time found themselves very short of cash,it threatened the survival of the club which was only resolved when the local council bought Wilderspool Stadium from the club to give then a financial lifeline.
14th June.Wire's four for the origin .
13th June.Warrington Director Simon Moran assisted the the Wire with a substancial contribution towards the transfer fees for Ben Westwood and Nathan Wood,the fees which totled £90,000 is a sign of the determination that all at Warrington are putting in to keep the Wire in Super League it is 5 years since Warrington last paid for a player and that was to bring Lee Briers to Warington from St Helens.Warrington have been accused of making an illegal approach to Dean Lawford the Batley utility player David Plange refutes this saying that the player contacted Wolves first and that the Batley club have been kept abreast of what is going on.Batley want a fee for the player,but Lawford insists his deal with Batley allows him to move as as free agent should a Super eague club come in for him.As reported elsewhere there is no truth that Gary Hule and John Hill have been offered in exchange.Hulse and Hill who Plange considers to be players with a future at Warrington may be offered for load to Wire partner club Chorley,or if the players consider they may get more experience at Batley they could go there on loan..After playing well against Wakefield Danny Halliwell has been told that Wire would like to keep him on loan untill the end of the present term,Plange says "Hev has got better every game he has played he gives us width and his pace is another dimention to our game.At present he is not driving and was having trouble getting to Halifax and was getting fined,Halifax are happy to let him stay at Warrington and we are happy to have him here.
An open meeting has been arranged at the touchdown club at 7.30 on the 25th June Chief executive Andy Gatcliffe head coach David Plange assistant coach Paul Derbyshire and financial director Neil Dowson will all be in attendance to answer any questions regarding the club's on and off field activities.
The second Academy Origin game will be played at Wilderspool on Monday17th June 7.30pm Wire player is ain a team dominated by Wigan St Helens and Salford players.Woolston Rovers start preseason training for open age teams on Tuesday 18th June at Bennetts rec Padgate John Fieldhouse head coach will welcome all past and present players.
10th June. Mark Hilton has been called into the Lancashire origin "Pictures" squad to face Yorkshire on Friday 14th he replaces Mike Forshaw who has withdrawn.
9th June.Warrington have had three players selected for the Origin Game next Friday at the JJB14th June they are Lee Briers Lancashire, and new signing Ben Westwood and Nick Fozzard for Yorkshire.Rumours are afoot that Bobby Goulding has intimated that he would like to leave Salford and join the Wire,David Plange has said if Goulding becomes available Wire would be definately interested.Warrington 24 Wakefield 12 Wire moved above Wakefield in a hard-fought basement battle played in poor conditions. Martin Moana and Brad Davis set up Neil Law to score early on and Kris Tassle should have built on that when he lost the ball over the try line. Danny Halliwell put the Wolves ahead but the game was level at half time. After the break Sid Domic and Jon Clarke touched down before Halliwell bagged a second to tie up the win. Tries: Haliwell (2) Clarke Domic Goals: Smyth (4) Wakefield Law Davis Law (2) H/T: 6-6 ATT: 5,006
7th June.WARRINGTON v WAKEFIELD Wire have completed a second signing from Super League relegation rivals Wakefield with the capture of centre Ben Westwood for a £60,000 fee.Westwood joins his former Wildcats team-mate Nathan Wood at Wilderspool but, like Wood, will not be able to play in Sunday's match with Wakefield.Wakefield negotiated a clause in both deals preventing the players appearing against them. Both are set to make their Wolves debuts against London on June 23. Danny Halliwell and Rob Smyth both face late fitness tests for the Wire on respective ankle and hip injuries. Craig McDowell is also being rested by the Wolves, while Nathan Wood is barredfrom facing his old club because of a clause in his contract.
6th June.Warrington's interest in Wakefield players continues with the news that another player could be joining the Wire from the Yorkshire club,Ben Westwood will join Warrington if a deal with Wakefield can be agreed.Westwood is a strong player 20 years old with a bright future in front of him,Nathan Wood Wire's £30,000 signing from the Wildcats rates Westwood highly.He Said" Ben is a tremendous player and I believe one day he will be in contention for a Great Britain centre spot."" He has bundles of talent and I would love it if he followed my lead and joined the Wolves ,I have spoken to him about the situation and he is certainly keen to join the club,Hopefully he will be here soon.
Nathan Wood is looking forward to teaming up with Lee Briers in what promises to be quite a half back pairing ,David Plange is certainly looking to make his own mark on the team,Plange considers Wood to be the ideal person to help pull Wire away from the spectre of relegation and Wood who is a former amateur boxer is determined to do everything he can to help.Wood said" There is no way Wolves are going to be relegated while I'm here.I have had a great season with Wakefield and I will be doing my upmost to bring my good form to Warrington " I want to prove that I am a good signing and not an over the hill Aussie over here for a cushy pay cheque.I am a great organiser ,a good support playerand a naturally dominant half back.I have never had representative honours but I have won clubman of the year awards at every club I have been at.My reason for coming to Warrington is that the club is a far more professional outfit than Wakefield and although the league position isn't great I have been impressed with their standard of play whenever I have seen them." I am also looking forward to playing with Lee Briers he is a gifted player and I am hoping we can make a lethal combination.Nathan will have to wait untill the game against London Broncos in France on June 22nd due to an agreement with Wakefield that he does not play against them on Sunday.
Gary Chambers said that Warrington's tendancy to concede tries in quick succession is causing concern,speaking at the post match press conference he said "We told the players to get a few good sets in when we have had points against us and settle down but it never happened,it is something we need to address.It will help when we get Lee Penny and Dean Busby back ,they are both on the road to recovery and they strengthen our squad considerably,Hooker Jon Clarke said" we have the basis of a good squad here and the thought of relegation hasn't even entered my mind.
5th June.Wire have finally signed Nathen Wood the on off will he wont he transfer saga finally reaches a conclusion,the player who has only been at Wakefield for 6 months after joining from the New Zealand Warriors will by agreement not play against Wakefield on Sunday.
2nd June.Wire have signed half-back NathanWood fromWakefield to replace recently-retired skipper Matt Rodwell. The Wildcats reluctantly agreed to sell the Australian after the player twice requested to be released from his contract. Wakefield will receive an undisclosed transfer fee for the player and now have a vacany on their overseas quota.The Wire have agreed to a clause which prevents Wood from playing against Wakefield next Sunday. Wire have included recent loan signing Craig McDowell in the team to face Bradford today 2/6/02. WARRINGTON 12-40 BRADFORD Warrington: Tries: Wood ,Alstead .Goals: Briers Clarke .Bradford :Tries Deacon, Forshaw, Vaikona (2) Costin, Paul ,Withers .Goals: Deacon (6) .Attn 6,619 .Warrington were in with a chance untill kick off, Bradford managed to score 30 points by half time to one by Warrington.The Wire tightened their defence in the second half and Bradford only added to their score in the latter part of the game.Lee Briers was injured and one can only hope he is fit for the crunch game next week against Wakefield.Earlier reports that Wire had signed Nathen Wood seem to be premature no one at the club seems to know what is happening.David Plange was called into a meeting after the Bradford game and missed a radio interview,read into that what you will.
