Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Chester hails Trinity youths as patched-up side go down

BOSS CHRIS Chester saluted injury-hit Wakefield Trinity Wildcats for their battling performance in a 38-10 home loss to Warrington Wolves, but admitted they weren't 'smart' enough to upset the Challenge Cup finalists.
Chris ChesterChris Chester
Chris Chester

“It was gutsy,” Chester said of Wakefield’s fourth successive defeat.

“I thought we caused Warrington some problems in the first 40 minutes, but we came up with some silly errors and crucial errors in key parts of the game.

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“We conceded two really soft tries before half-time and we had to do too much defending because of the errors.

“We gave it everything and we came up short.

“I am proud of the efforts; we didn’t get beat on effort, we got beaten on smarts more than anything.”

Chester felt it was a step forward from the previous week’s 60-12 loss at Wigan Warriors.

“I wanted a reaction and I got one,” he said. “It was a very even contest in the first 40 minutes, but we completed around 63 per cent in the first half. We had to do too much defending and it caught up with us in the end, but we gave it a good go.”

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Wakefield’s official man of the match award went to England under-19s forward James Batchelor, who became the fourth player to graduate to the first team from Trinity’s academy in their last three league games.

He only returned from England’s Australian tour six days ago and Chester enthused: “He is certainly one for the future, or one for now.

“He is going to be a hell of a player. He didn’t look out of place today, he’s an exciting young kid, very good defensively and played very, very well.”

Another 18-year-old, winger Judah Mazive, scored a try on his home debut and the side also included full-back Max Jowitt and forward Jordan Crowther, who are still eligible for the under-19s.

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Jowitt was due to be 18th man, but came in on the bench when Scott Moore withdrew due to a hamstring problem.

“The young kids again really stood up,” Chester added.

“Max Jowitt needs a rest, but with the injuries we’ve got at the minute – with Scott Moore not making it – we had to juggle a few things around.”