Kevin Penny and Jordan Burke hat-tricks as Warrington Wolves under 20s hammer Bradford Bulls (From This Is Cheshire)

Kevin Penny and Jordan Burke hat-tricks as Warrington Wolves under 20s hammer Bradford Bulls

10:36pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in

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Warrington Wolves u20 48 Bradford Bulls u20 16

WARRINGTON Wolves produced another top quality performance to register a comprehensive win over Bradford Bulls in the RFL Academy Under 20s Championship at Wilderspool Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Wolves set off like a steam train and registered four early tries to shock the visitors and then finished the game off in style to run out very worthy winners against a Bulls side who showed plenty of fight and never gave up.

The young Wolves opened the scoring in the third minute when the ball was swiftly swept along the line to create room for centre James Mendieka to put winger Kevin Penny over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Then full back Jordan Burke collected the restart on the bounce and broke through the middle and raced 70 metres to score at the side of the posts. Scrum half Gareth O’Brien added the conversion.

Wolves moved further ahead on 11n minutes when a break by Penny was carried on by second row Ben Evans and the ball was then sent out wide for Burke to score in the right corner.

And then straight from the kick off Penny broke down the right wing and found O’Brien on his inside to race 40 metres before returning the ball to Penny who scored between the posts. O’Brien goaled the latter to put his side 20-0 to the good.

Bulls were then rewarded for a spell of intense pressure on the Wolves line when hooker Johnny Horton burrowed over from acting half back after substitute George Burgess was held just short of the line.

Loose forward Danny Addy converted but then Wolves hit back again just after the half hour mark when a cross-field kick by O’Brien found Penny in acres of space to collect and go over for his hat-trick in the right corner. O’Brien landed a fine touchline conversion.

Two minutes before the break Bradford went over for their second try when centre Joe Wardle held the ball up well in the tackle and put winger Vini Finigan over in the left corner. Addy goaled superbly to make the half time score 26-12 in favour of Wolves.

Warrington came out firing once again and a 40/20 by O’Brien in the first set put them in good position and substitute Brook Broughton powered over and then a very high kick by O’Brien was fumbled by the Bradford defence and centre James Mendieka pounced on the loose ball to score. O’Brien added both conversions.

Shortly afterwards good work by Bulls half backs Ryan Gaunt and Liam Kay saw the ball reach Wardle, who put Finigan over in the left corner.

Bulls then had their best period of the game as they were camped on the Wolves line for long periods but some superb defensive work meant that they were unable to add to their tally and it was Wolves who scored next when good work by substitute Jack Cooper saw him offload superbly to O’Brien who combined with stand off Craig Harvey to put lose forward James Laithwaite over. O’Brien tagged on the extras.

Wolves completed the scoring in the final minute when the ball was sent out wide and Burke managed to squeeze over in the left corner to register a richly deserved hat-trick.

Outstanding for Wolves were Jack Cooper, Adam Neal, Ben Evans and Danny Martin.

After the game Wolves under 20s head coach Richard Marshall said: “The performance from the side was excellent after having had a week off.

“We must give credit to Bradford who were a big physical side who threw the ball about very well especially in the second half.

“There was a period of about 15 minutes where they peppered our line with back to back sets but our defensive shape was immense and they were unable to break us down and register any points in that period.

“This could prove invaluable to us if we are to achieve anything this season.

“Our forwards were absolutely outstanding which allowed Gareth O’Brien to control the game from the halves.

“Jordan Burke also kept us in good shape from full back and richly deserved his three tries.

“Our attitude to defend our own goal line was very good and we can now look forward to a massive game at St. Helens on Friday evening.”

Wolves: Jordan Burke (3t); Kevin Penny (3t), James Mendieka (1t), Danny Martin, Rhys Williams; Craig Harvey, Gareth O’Brien (6g); Jamie Peasnell, Liam Hulme, Adam Neal, Mike Stewart, Ben Evans, James Laithwaite (1t). Subs: Gavin Williams, Brooke Broughton (1t), Jack Cooper, Matty Lomax.

Bulls: Ben Helliwell; Vini Finigan (2), Michael Platt, Joe Wardle, Jess Jo Sheriffe; Ryan Gaunt, Liam Kay; Steve Crossley, Johnny Horton (1t), Rick Barr, Tom Olbison, Liam Mackay, Danny Addy (2). Subs: George Burgess, Lewis Reed, Andy Tate, Aarron Blake.