Warrington v Leeds 1996

Blast from the Past: 25 years ago today Warrington competed in their first ever game in the the newly formed Super League with John Dorahy's men claiming a good victory over Dean Bell's rebuilt Leeds at Headingly.
Wire played without squad numbers as they hadn't been issued in time so traditional position numbers were used with Mike Ford wearing the 7 shirt which would go to Kelly Shelford and new signing Toa Kohe-Love made his debut from the bench and Tongan pairing of Mafi and Finau on the left flank.
Warrington went on the attack from the off with Mark Hilton dropping the ball as he stretched out to score before Iestyn Harris kicking a penalty to claim the first points. Soon afterwards Hilton and Chambers set the platform for Ford and Harris to combine and nice hands from Finau sent Mafi racing for the corner to dive in. Thankfully the touch judge didn't spot that he was in touch and Wire's first ever Super League try was given. 6 nil.
It was then 12 nil when substitute Wainwright opened Leeds up and Harris took his offload to jink his way through the defence and convert. The young Welshman then added another two thanks to a penalty against future Wire Nick Fozzard. 14 nil.
Leeds eventually got into the game and Kevin Iro eased his way past Chris Rudd to open the Loiners account. Graham Holroyd was on target for 14-6. Harris was running the show and very nearly had a second try but couldn't ground his own kick through but did add another penalty to give Wire a ten point gap at half time.
In the second set of the second half it was a combination of the backrowers when Paul Sculthorpe showed his class to send Ian Knott scampering 25 yards to the line. Harris with the simple conversion made it 22-6 and Warrington looked in control.
Leeds needed to score and another future Wire George Mann easily dummied to Rudd again to stroll over after Warrington had knocked on near their own line. Holroyd again kicked two for 22-12. The home side started to apply the pressure and debutant winger Gleadhill was denied a try with a foot in touch and then Mann knocked on in the same corner when only inches from the line. Eventually they breathed the tryline when a youthful Fozzard spun out of Mafi's tackle to put Leeds back in the game. Holroyd's two brought the scores to 22-18 and game on. Marcus Vass was penalised for crossing but Harris was off target with the penalty attempt to make a four point gap and Warrington held on to keep the score 22-18 and secure a victory in their first ever Super League match.
Wire: Penny, Forster, Rudd, Finau, Mafi, Harris, Ford, Hilton, Hough, Chambers, Knott, Cullen, Sculthorpe. Subs - Kohe-Love, Jones, Shelford, Wainwright.
Leeds - Gibbons, Fallon, Iro, Hassan, Gleadhill, Cummins, Holroyd, Harmon, Shaw, Howard, Mann, Shultz, Morley. Subs - Riley, Vassilakopalous, McDermott, Fozzard