News

Broncos’ head coach Tony Rea apologises to fans after their worst home defeat in Super League

Summary:

3041 fans attended the On the Road game in Kent.

Image:

By Andrew Belt

London Broncos endured a horror show at Priestfield Stadium after Warrington Wolves crashed over 15 tries to the hosts’ two.

Kieran Dixon’s 15th Super League try of the season just before half-time and James Mendeika’s second four-pointer for the club were London’s only bright spots on the day.

The result was Warrington’s eighth win in their last nine games and broke a club record for their biggest away victory margin.

For London, it was their worst home defeat in Super League as 3041 fans attended the On the Road game in Kent.

Head coach Tony Rea said, after the game: “I’m extremely disappointed about the performance and I am apologetic to all those who came down to watch us today.

“I just thought the team got spooked out of the contest. They played well and we didn’t handle it. We made a lot of unforced errors and we’ve now got to go back to basics to improve our game.”

London welcomed back Dixon and Dan Sarginson into the starting line-up while Brett Hodgson came back for Warrington after injuries.

The Wolves went over in the ninth minute when Chris Hill drove over although Stefan Ratchford missed the conversion from a relatively comfortable angle.

Michael Witt kicked well for Dixon to chase eight minutes later but the trajectory of the ball proved too quick, even for the pacey winger.

In the 20th minute Joel Monaghan went over after a clever Lee Briers kick found Ritchie Myler who offloaded for the winger and this time, Ratchford converted.

London had a strong spell begun by Chris Melling’s powerful break but were unable to capitalise on this occasion

The Wolves profited from back-toback penalties with Michael Monaghan going over in the 27th minute and Ratchford’s goal extended Warrington’s lead.

Three minutes later, Myler punished some soft Broncos defending to grab the Wolves’ fourth try of the afternoon, and Ratchford kicked his third goal.

Michael Monaghan grabbed a second try in the 35th minute and Ratchford converted again to take the score to 28-0 in Warrington’s favour.

The home crowd were finally roused into action when Dixon scored in the left-hand corner in the 39th minute after some good handling high up the pitch.

Witt couldn’t convert from a tight angle just before half-time.

Tries from Myler, Ben Westwood, Stefan Ratchford, Chris Riley and a double from Ryan Atkins made for a strong start to the second-half from the Wolves but the Broncos responded with a decent six points.

Mendeika grounded a Witt grubber in the 68th minute after a positive burst from Ben Fisher in midfield and Witt converted to give London some respite from Warrington’s domination during the game.

Simon Grix’s hat-trick and a Mick Higham effort, all in the last ten minutes, inflated the score to the detriment of the Broncos.

SWLondoner Man of the Match – Chris Melling – one of only a handful of Broncos players who emerged with any credit from the game. Ran hard all afternoon for the doomed London effort.

Photo courtesy of LondonBroncosRL via YouTube, with thanks.

Follow us @SW_Londoner

Related Articles