18th March. JUST 400 standing tickets will go on general sale for Warrington Wolves' biggest home games of the season, Following the problems before the first game at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, when hundreds of fans were locked out or admitted late, Wolves officials say the only way to secure a place for games against the big four of Wigan, St Helens, Leeds and Bradford and the derby with Widnes, will be to buy a season ticket. The South Stand in the multi-million-pound stadium has again been sold out for Sunday's game against Castleford and with large numbers of away fans expected to fill the other terraced stand for big games, only a limited number of standing tickets will go on general sale. A club spokesman said that season ticket holders, who are allowed to use either of the terraced stands, will now be 'encouraged' to use the South Stand. Next season, though, fans will be allotted specific stands to watch from. She added: "We have found that 95 per cent of season ticket holders have been using the South Stand for the first two matches. "We would encourage people to use the South Stand for those bigger games. "People sold tickets for the South or West Stands will only be able to get into that particular stand." Just 2,800 tickets remained for Sunday's game as the Guardian went to press and club officials have urged fans, even those with tickets, to get there early for the 3pm kick-off. Ticket information on 248888.

Whitehaven have announced that the BBC televised tie will be an all-ticket affair on their compact ground. Cup fever has struck in west Cumbria as the National League One side bid for a first semifinals appearance since 1957 and a huge amount of local support is expected. Between 2,000 and 3,000 tickets will be made available to Wolves fans, the final number likely to be dependant on whether or not planned safety work at the Recreation Ground this week allows the capacity to be raised to 7,000 from 5,000. The three-hour trip up the M6 and across to the west coast is expected to be a popular one with Wolves fans as their team bids for a third semi-finals appearance in five years. Tickets will go on sale to season ticket holders at the Wolfware shop on Monday and they will continue to have priority on Tuesday. Any remaining tickets will go on general sale on Wednesday. Only 250 seating tickets will be available. The price for a Grand Stand seat is £12 while to stand up around the other three sides of the ground the tickets are £10 for adults and £6 for concessions. Fans should either call in at Wolfware at The Halliwell Jones Stadium or contact the ticket-line on 248888. No tickets will be sold to Warrington fans at the Whitehaven office. Wolves are running supporters' coaches to Whitehaven - seats are £13 and £10. Book early via Wolfware to avoid disappointment.

WARRINGTON Wolves will be at close to full strength for Sunday's Super League clash with Castleford Tigers and head coach Paul Cullen says that it will be unacceptable to lose. Playing Cas at The Halliwell Jones Stadium it ought to be a home banker as far as Cullen is concerned. He labelled Sunday's opponents 'a desperate club, a desperate team and a desperate coach' and said that questions will be asked if Wolves fail to pick up the two points on offer. Cullen is demanding a vast improvement from Wolves' patchy Challenge Cup perform-ance at Oldham and is glad that the likes of skipper Lee Briers, Daryl Cardiss, Paul Wood, Mike Forshaw and Chris Leikvoll should be available for selection. They did not play against Oldham at the weekend due to various injury problems but Cullen says that they are all now well on the mend. Graham Appo is also responding well to treatment after 'twinging' his hamstring while kicking off in Wolves' previous Super League game at Hull PC. But the Aussie utility back is not expected to play in what Cullen says is 'a very important game' against Cas, kick-off 3pm. Cullen said: "It's a massive match because we are at home and are playing a side that's not in the top six. "There are certain matches that are unacceptable to lose. Home ties against bottom six sides fall into that category." Cas bullied Wolves into submission in the corresponding fixture last season. The 32-16 defeat is etched into Cullen's memory banks and he says that winning the physical battle is the key to gaining revenge. Cullen said: "We were pushed, we were knocked about the field and we lost the collision against Castleford last season. "We cannot afford to let that happen again and I've got every confidence that it won't happen. "We will win the collision against Castleford because we have to." Cullen added: "We are due a big game and we need one. We have had very sharp lessons at Hull and at Oldham in recent weeks and all 17 players have to stand up and be counted against Cas." Recent press reports indicate that Cas coach Graham Steadman may soon be out of a job unless results improve. The Tigers are yet to gain their first Super League point but Cullen is convinced that his troops are in for a rough ride. He said: "We are planning to take on what we believe to be a very tough and very competent football team. We don't read anything from what we have heard in the media about their form and their circumstances. "We have watched a number of video tapes and Cas can play football. "They also have some very tough and resilient defenders but their error rate has been their downfall this-season." Cullen added: "We are fully aware that if Cas clean up their act and become more efficient they can be a dangerous force. "We are just determined not to be the side that they turn over first." source Warrington Guardian.

15th March. Oldham 10 (6): Tries: Cowell, N. Johnson Goals: L. Marsh Warrington 44 (26):Wire coach Paul Cullen was less than 100% happy at this tired performance. "We can operate at a few gears, and we just about got into first gear today," he said afterwards. "The score reflects the game. We beat Rochdale 80-0 in the last round and our first half performance was an insult to them in all fairness. "All credit to Oldham, they were proud and resolute and and when they had the ball, they had a real dig at us." Tries: Burns, Sibbit, Guisset, Hulse 2, Grose, Varkulis, Westwood, Gaskell Goals: Wilshere, Noone 3 . Wire team.Grose, Gaskell, Westwood, Sibbit, Wilshere, N. Wood, Hulse, Hilton, Clarke, Lima, Wainwright, Burns, Noone. Replacements: Durbin, Guisset, Stevens, Varkulis.

12th March. Paul Cullen has named and 19-man squad for the trip to Boundary Park this weekend. 3. Brent Grose 2. John Wilshere 12. Ian Sibbit 4. Ben Westwood 20. Dean Gaskell 19. Gary Hulse 6. Lee Briers 7. Nat Wood 8. Chris Leikvoll 14. Mark Gleeson 22. Danny Lima 11. Darren Burns 23. Mike Wainwright 18. Paul Noone 26. Jamie Durbin 25 Richard Varkulis (D) 9. Jon Clarke 15. Jerome Guisset 17. Warren Stevens INJURIES: 1. Darryl Cardiss calf strain sustained in Round 2 against Hull (07/03/04) 5. Graham Appo hamstring sustained in Round 2 against Hull (07/03/04) 16. Paul Wood knee injury sustained in Round 2 against Hull (07/03/04) Oldham Pre-match Lunch 4 course meal with wine Programme Executive Box After match speeches £25 "Pre-match lunch (4 course) in the executive lounge, enjoy the cup actionin our executive boxes, meet the players after the game and witness the presentations" Contact Dave Bradshaw on 0161 628 3677

11th March A REUNION to mark the 50th anniversary of a special occasion In Warrington Wolves' history Is being arranged. Warrington and Halifax Rugby League Past Players Associations to remember the Challenge Cup final replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford, of May 5,1954 with a commemorative event at the home of Bradford Bulls. Wire, as Wolves were then known, won the replay before a then world record crowd for a rugby game. when a reported crowd of 102,569 attended the match a truer figure was put at the game 120,000 plus which would make this the most attended rugby league game in the history of the sport. The night time event on May 5, 2004, will be open to players and hopefully supporters too. Transport to the ground will be provided, depending on Interest. Contact Stan on 07730 075726 for further details.

.Paul Cullen will not be risking rushing anyone back from injury. Graham Appo, Daryl Cardiss and Paul Wood all miss Sunday's Powergen Challenge Cup fifth round tie at Boundary Park as a result of the injuries they sustained in the defeat at Hull. Skipper Lee Briers may also be outafter taking a kick to his calf. Appo hurt his hamstring kicking off at the start of the match, replacement full back Cardiss was carried off with a suspected broken leg and Wood took a hard knock to the knee. Cardiss went for x-rays on Sunday night and no break showed up but he has damage to the top side of one calf. Wood's knock to the knee hit a nerve that caused some sensation in his calf and foot. All players are at present undergoing treatment and some of them could be back in time to face Castleford on March 21, while Briers may yet be fit for Sunday.

Coach Paul Cullen is concerned that his team allowed themselves to be bullied at Hull"We're bitterly disappointed not to have got the two points from Hull. "It all went wrong for us in that opening hour but, unlike a number of Super League teams would have done at that point, we didn't collapse. "We finished in a far better vein of form than Hull after going through what we did for an hour, the last 20 minutes were very credible. "We had been dominated, they had controlled the collisions, they had quicker play-the-balls and they got in their off-loads. We were a little too soft and it's a great reminder for us. They were a big pack, we let them bully us and we let them do what they wanted. "We can't allow Oldham to get any foothold n the game on Sunday because we are casting an eye past that match towards the Castleford game."And we fully remember what Castleford did to us at Wilderspool at the start of last year, They came, they dominated and they bullied. They knocked us from one end of Wilderspool to the other. "So maybe we've had the slap in the face and the wake-up call that we've needed because the game between Warrington and Castleford at The Halliwell Jones Stadium is one that is vitally important we win* The area of 'execution' The area that Paul highlighted for improvement after the opening Wakefield win also showed itself to be lacking at Hull and Wolves are working hard with the players to come up to the required standard. Cullen said: "Our composure under pressure was not where it needed to be. We're not far away but this game is won by fractions. "We made four clear breaks through the defensive line against Hull in the first half and we didn't score a point. "On the opening sets we virtually went the full length of the field. Hull were in scramble and panic mode but they held their nerve better than we did and went full length of the field themselves to score. "If we'd have scored on either of those two clear breaks in the first two sets there would have been a completely different game on the back of it. "Unfortunately we didn't, we didn't have sufficient composure, we didn't maintain the shape and structure that we practice for when we go through a defensive line. We panicked and we came up with nothing. The result of that MS that we had a torrid hour. We have to make sure that hour pays for us somewhere. "We simply go back to practice for repetition, repetition and repetition. We recreate the situations and go through the players' minds and work them through what we need to do in those situations. "At the level of playing against the top sides we have to be absolutely clinical once we're through the line. Chances don't come often. We created enough at Hull but did not take them. "Now, we have to make sure we do to Oldham what we did to Rochdale. I'm not looking for a similar score line as 80-0 but similar preparation and a similar clinical approach to the way that we operated against Rochdale. It's how we operate that is important because, as I said, we know that we have Castleford coming to The Halliwell Jones Stadium the following week and that is a massive game for us." Beating Castleford would put four points between Wolves and top six rivals Castleford and would make sure Wolves do not fall four points behind the early pace setters.

Grose is at full back AUSTRALIAN centre Brent Grose will start at full back against Oldham at Boundary Park on Sunday, kick-off 3pm, in the absence of injured Graham Appo and Darryl Cardiss. Back row forward Darren Burns hopes to shake off a virus in time to play. Richard Varkulis has returned from a one month's loan stint with Rochdale Hornets and is set to make his first appearance for the club in the Powergen Challenge Cup. Mike Forshaw and Mark Hilton will be rested for this game. Expected team: Brent Grose; John Wilshere, lan Sibbit, Ben Westwood, Dean Gaskell; Gary Hulse, Nathan Wood; Chris Lelkvoll, Mark Gleeson, Danny Lima, Darren Burns, Mike Wainwright, Paul Noone. Subs from Jon Clarke, Richard Varkulis, Jerome Guisset, Warren Stevens, Jamie Durbin.

Stand Sold-Out The South Stand in The Halliwell Jones Stadium has sold out for the Castleford game on Sunday 21st March 2004. Tickets are still available for the West Stand (standing), East Stand (unreserved seating) and the North Stand (reserved seating). Ticket prices North Stand (reserved seating) Adults: £18.00, Concessions: £10.00 East Stand (unreserved seating) Adults: £15.00, Concessions: £8.00 Ground (West) Adults: £13.00, Concessions: £7.00 CALL THE TICKET HOTLINE ON 01925 248888.

9th March. Challenge Cup 5th Round The Wolves take on the Oldham Roughyeds in the 5th round of the Powergen Challenge Cup this Sunday, kick-off 3pm. The prices are as follows for the match: Main Stand - Upper Tier - Adults £12, Concession £8 - bar lounge facilities Main Stand - Lower Tier - Adults £11, Concession £7 Rochdale Road End - Adults £10, Concession £7 Boundary Park is an all-seater stadium. No alcohol allowed on the terraces. The Barmy Army are welcome to bring their drums and instruments. Directions to Boundary Park From the West: Take the M62 (which becomes the M60) to rejoin M62 Eastbound until junction 20. Take exit 20 on to the A627(M) towards Oldham From the East: Take M62 to junction 20. Then join A627(M) towards Oldham After exiting the A627(M) After approx 3 miles exit at junction signposted A664. At roundabout (passing "PC World" on your left) take first exit left (Broadway) Take first right (Hilbre Ave.) into main car park. Adequate parking for away fans.

Wolves Captain Backs Smoking Awareness Campaign .Wolves captain Lee Briers has spoken for the first time about the death of his brother to cancer to highlight of the dangers of smoking. Backing Warrington Primary Care Trust's smoking awareness campaign, the 25-year-old sportsman spoke movingly about his brother Brian and told how he had himself given up smoking after his brother had been diagnosed. Lee, a father of two young children, said: "As soon as I knew he had cancer I stopped smoking straight away. I haven't had a cigarette since. It was the easiest way to stop smoking - but the hardest too." Lee's brother Brian, himself a social smoker, discovered he had testicular cancer three years ago aged just 34. Five weeks later he had died. Lee, the youngest of five siblings who lives in St Helens with his fiancée Vicky Hall, 26, and their two children Sophie, six, and nine-month-old Reece, said: 2It was such a massive shock. It is such a big hole in my life and my family's. It was so out of the blue. "We were told he had an 80 per cent chance of recovering. He had some chemotherapy, but fell ill and went back to hospital. We had a telephone call at 6am one morning and were told he had taken a turn for the worst. He had passed away by the time we got to the hospital. "I was really close to him we are a close family. One of the hardest things to come to terms with is that I never had the chance to say goodbye." Despite being a top athlete, Lee himself was a smoker until his brother discovered he had cancer. "I had my first cigarette when I was 10 with friends who were older than me," he admitted. "It became a habit when I was 16 when I started smoking more heavily with my school friends. I didn't like it, but kept going - I suppose because I was addicted. We smoked because we had a child-like mentality to 'follow the leader'. "I would really like to get the message across to kids that it is not cool to smoke. I'd like to tell them not to be fooled by your mates saying: 'Try this'. That's how most people start. But all you are doing is killing yourself." Just days after the death of his brother in April 2001, Lee was back on the rugby pitch. With one minute's silence before kick-off, Lee dedicated the game to his brother. "It was a release for me," he said. "My friends at the club helped me through it, as did the Wolves' supporters. "My brother's death also brought the family closer together. The whole family talks about him all the time. We are very proud of him. He was such a kind, generous person. We miss him dreadfully." Lee, who became captain of Warrington Wolves Rugby Club in 2002 (the year after his brother died) is to urge smokers to quit when he speaks at an event at the new Wolves' stadium next Wednesday on No Smoking Day. Speakers also include public health experts and ex-smokers. Pupils at Sir Thomas Boteler School Youth Action Group will also present a short play. Anyone who would like to attend the event should call Sally Farrer, Warrington PCT's Assistant Director of Health Improvement on 01925 843712. Lee said: "Warrington Primary Care Trust's Stop Smoking Service has one of the best success rates in the country for helping people pack up smoking. It's No Smoking Day on March 10 and I would urge anyone who is thinking of quitting to do so." He also urged men to be aware of testicular cancer and to check themselves regularly. "I am much more aware these days and do self examine regularly," he said. "I thought it was something that would never happen to my family but it did." Warrington PCT's team of smoking cessation advisers work with primary care nurses and other staff including pharmacists to ensure that smokers have the back-up they need, firstly to kick the habit and then to stay smoke free. The service offers GP and locality based one-to-one, group and out of hours' sessions including evening and Saturday morning clinics at a range of venues across Warrington. The smoking cessation team is currently conducting a survey of Warrington businesses to find out if any have no smoking policies and if not, whether they would like help setting one up.

7th March. Hull 24, Warrington 18: Tries Hull. Barnett, Barnett jr, Briscoe, Yeaman.Goals: Cooke 2, Tries Warrington.Grose 2, Lima, Goals: Briers 3.

4th March. The Wire will be at full strength when they play Hull FC at the Kingston Communications Stadium on Sunday, kick-off 3.15pm. r Lee Briers, loose forward Mike Forshaw, back rower Darren Burns, prop Mark Hilton and hooker Jon Clarke will all return after being rested for Tuesday's 80-0 Challenge Cup defeat of Rochdale Hornets. Head coach Paul Cullen revealed all of his men came through the Hornets game unscathed and there remains serious competition for starting places as a result. This should help to maintain good form and fans are growing excited about the prospects for the season ahead, specially with a good Challenge Cup draw pairing Wolves with lower league opposition again in the fifth round. But Cullen and his players are not getting carried away with the two wins so far, the first of which was also at home against Wakefield. Cullen said: "We need to make sure as a group of players and coaches we keep our feet firmly on the floor. "We're determined to do so and we've got to get something out of this season. "Things are looking bright at the minute and we know that won't last forever. "There are always dips in form and we have to be tough enough to ground that out if and when that happens. "As for the Rochdale game, we got everything out of it that we wanted to. The priority was to be in the next round away to either Oldham or Sharlston (due to have been played last night after Warrington Guardian had gone to press), secondly to come through unscathed and also to have concentrated on the field for the full 80 minutes. We delivered on all three counts. "The concentration test was a good one for us because we're going to need that in what is going to be a massive game for us at Hull FC. "I watched Hull's game with Leigh at the weekend and Hull did not turn up for the first 25 minutes. We don't expect them to do that again this time round. "The lessons they will have learned in that match will be still ringing in their ears. We're very wary of a Hull backlash." Hull have not had the best start to the season but the quality in their squad means they are no less vulnerable. Injuries and an opening day defeat and being pushed all the way by lower league opposition in the Powergen Challenge Cup have made it an uncomfortable buildup to Hull's first home game of the season at the all-seater Kingston Communications Stadium. Director of rugby Shaun McRae was disappointed to lose the services of Toa Kohe-Love for this year and moved quickly to snap up ex-Wolves centre Michael Eagar from Castleford. But Australian Eagar broke his arm on his Hull debut in the opening game of the season, a 30-16 defeat at St Helens. That blow added to skipper Jason Smith being absent for eight weeks of the start of the campaign due to shoulder surgery. Dwayne West and Steve Prescott are also still on the sidelines with long-standing injuries. And on top of that pack man Warren Jowitt has had to be released before the season has properly kicked in due to recurring injury problems. At the weekend they struggled to overcome National League One "side Leigh at The Coliseum .

New Zealand international Richard Swain and ex-Wigan youngster Shaun Briscoe are among the new players at the KC Stadium this year. The Hull camp will be going into the Wolves clash determined not to allow the early pace setters to get four points clear of them. Hull, who finished seventh in Tetley's Super League VIII, do go into the game with the benefit of two extra days of recovery than Warrington. And they do hold a psychological edge after doing the double over Wolves last season. But Cullen said:"l don't think having had a midweek game will be a contributory factor. "We played on. Tuesday, which is our heavy conditioning day in our weekly cycle. "The players went into a swimming pool for recovery after Tuesday's game, had Wednesday off and return to the normal cycle on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. "Hull taught us a bit of a lesson last year. They executed the width of their pitch very well. We now have that 'wide pitch' advantage at The Halliwell Jones Stadium and we've got to make that pay for us."

A FORMER member of the Warrington Colts rugby league side died just days after an anniversary party to commemorate their tour to France. Colin Mercer, from Hood Manor, was found dead last Wednesday just a few days after leaving the King's Club in Latchford where members of the 1973 Warrington Colts side held an anniversary dinner following Warrington Wolves' first game at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Mr Mercer, who went on to play for Swinton, stayed involved in rugby league and was a coach of a junior team at Crosfields amateur side in Great Sankey until recently. Micky Pearce, who was at the dinner, said that he was shocked to hear of Mr Mercer's death. He added: "He was having a laugh with mates and there was no problem at all and next we heard, he had died. It was a terrible shock." The 51-year-old had also been in high spirits on Sunday, February 22, when he was at the Crosfields Club, where he was still a social member. It is believed that he died after suffering a massive stroke the following day. Mike Redmond, a fellow member of the club, said: "He was still very active in rugby league and he regularly watched the games as well. "It was a big shock to hear the news." Mr Mercer worked as a painter and decorator and had three children, Shelley, Alison and Gareth. His funeral takes place tomorrow, Friday, at St Barnabas' Church. source Warrington Guardian

ONE of the most famous and well known names in Warrington rugby league died this week, aged 84. Walter Knocker' Norris was responsible for teaching the sport to hundreds of youngsters in the town and starred for Warrington during the Second World War. He died in the early hours of Monday morning following a recent illness and a one minute silence was held at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in tribute before Tuesdays Challenge Cup game against Rochdale. Nephew Stan Norris said that Walter still had a keen interest in the sport and was well known in the town. He added: "He became involved in teaching in Yorkshire and he used to say that he was the first Lancastrian to be a member of the Yorkshire schoolboys!" He played 26 times for Warrington between 1939 and 1946 before he transferred to St Helens, where he made 96 appearances. But he became best-known for his teaching exploits, teaching the sport to many youngsters and supporting town teams in all weather. And Mr Norris was rewarded for his efforts when he won the 1994 Warrington Sports Personality Special Award. He leaves wife Lily as well as two daughters and five grandchildren. His funeral will be held at St Margaret's Church in Orford on Tuesday, March 9, from 12.15pm.

THE Halliwell Jones Stadium's fantastic banqueting facility is to become the home of legends this year for the benefit of Warrington sports fans. Ray Fisher Promotions are bringing distinguished sporting characters to the venue for a series of top line sportsman's dinners. lan Botham, Gazza and Chris Eubank will be coming to the 450-seat venue this year and a cracking line-up has been put together for the stadium's grand opening sportsman's dinner on April 16. A night with the champions will feature a top table of boxing's world welterweight champion Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton, darts world champion Phil 'The Power' Taylor and world masters snooker champion, Paul Hunter. A compere, comedian and three-course meal will complete the night of entertainment. Tickets are £360 for a table of 10 or £37.50 each and are available from Ray Fisher on 629091. • A programme fair will take place on the concourse of the North Stand at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Entry fee will be 20p and light refreshments will be available. Proceeds will go to Service Area Rugby League and Warrrington Schools under 11s RL team. source Warrington Guardian

3rd March. Warrington 80 Rochdale Hornets 0 : Warrington Wolves Predicably thrashed Rochdale Hornets in a one-sided Powergen Challenge Cup match. The Wire scored in 16 tries in the biggest win in the Cup's history and the writing was on the wall after two minutes when Graham Appo touched down. Appo finished with a brace, as did Paul Wood, John Wilshere and Ben Westwood. The Hornets' search for a consolation score was not helped when Rob Ball was sent off eight minutes from time for a high tackle on Gary Hulse.Tries: Wood 3 Guisset Gaskell Hulse Grose Cardiss Westwood 2 Noone Appo 2 Sibbit Wilshere 2 Goals: Appo 3 Wilshere 5 Warrington: Cardiss, Wilshere, Grose, Westwood, Gaskell, N. Wood, Appo, Leikvoll, Gleeson, Lima, P. Wood, Wainwright, Noone. Replacements: Hulse, Sibbit, Guisset, Stevens. Rochdale: Platt, Williams, Anderson, Yates, C. Campbell, Braddish, Birdseye, Leathem, Shaw, Hanson, Ratcliffe, Ball, Gorski. Replacements: Butterworth, Kirwin, Grundy, Costello. Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).

2nd March.Powergen 5th Round Draw With the re-arranged game this evening Warrington or Rochdale will take on either Oldham or amateur side Sharlston Rovers in the 5th Round of the Challenge Cup. Oldham and Sharlston play on Wednesday evening, Kick-off 7.45pm Full Draw: Huddersfield v Doncaster Hull v Castleford London Broncos v Wakefield St Helens v Leeds Batley v East Hull or Whitehaven Limoux v Wigan Oldham or Sharlston v Rochdale or Warrington Featherstone v York Sportsmans Dinner in Aid of Beamont Community School .A Sportsmans Dinner in Aid of the Beamont Community School Scholarship trip to Australia in July of this year will be held on Thursday 4th March, starting at 7.30pm Tickets are available for £25 per person, with some tables still being available. Guests for the evening events are Super League referee Steve Ganson, comedian Tom Pepper and auctioneer Mick Morgan. Please contact Mike McLoughlin on 07952 168959 for tickets or further details or if you are able to support the trip by making a donation.

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