The Buffaloes narrow defeat at Wilderspool sees them hang for a 44-36 aggregate win and a trip to Salford in the knock out stages.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, Wizards opened the scoring in the fifth minute when a high cross field kick by scrum half Warren Ayres saw Matt Taylor out jump the cover defenders to collect and score between the posts.

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Chris Mellor added the conversion and three minutes later Warrington increased their lead when good work down the right saw Jono Smith make a forty metre break and send supporting Andy Addison in at the side of the sticks.

In a rampant opening quarter hour by the hosts, a penalty gave them good field position and prop Luke Worsley powered twenty metres taking three defenders with him as he scored at the left of the posts.

Mellor's third conversion eradicated the overall deficit, however, Buffaloes hit back three minutes later when Jon Nicholls went down the blind side close to the line and found centre Matt Mullholland who squeezed over in the right corner.

Two minutes before the break the visitors narrowed the gap further when John Elliker managed to offload in the tackle to hooker Graham Harrison who put Bradley Asquith over between the posts.

Shaun Flynn converted to make the half time score 18-10 and Bramley started the second period in determined fashion, slick passing causing uncertainty in the home ranks as a lovely inside ball found Elliker at speed who powered over.

Flynn converted and then added a penalty three minutes later to level the scores at 18-18.

Warrington regained the lead on the hour when Bramley lost the ball on their own twenty metre line and hooker Steven Smythe gathered, his long pass putting Addison over in the right hand corner.

Mellor goaled from the touchline but more excellent inter-passing by the Buffaloes created an overlap for Shaun Gilmour to cross wide out on the left.

Flynn's fine conversion tied the scores once again but the Wizards had the final say when inspirational joint player/coach Mellor received the ball twenty metres out and side-stepped his way through the Buffaloes defence to score by the posts.

Bramley face Featherstone Lions at Stanningley next weekend in the opening match of the Rugby League Conference National season, looking for revenge after losing out in last year's Grand Final to the Lions.

Game star: Wizards' player/coach Chris Mellor produced an inspirational lead for his charges, having a hand in everything they did best.

Game breaker: Mellor's try, six minutes from time, sealed the match for the Wizards but it was ultimately not enough to put them through.



WARRINGTON WIZARDS:

Tries: Taylor (5 mins), Addison (8, 60), Worsley (14), Mellor (74)

Goals: Mellor 5/6



BRAMLEY BUFFALOES:

Tries: Mulholland (17mins), Asquith (38), Elliker (44), Gilmour (70)

Goals: Flynn 4/6



Men-of-the-match:

John Elliker (Buffaloes)
Chris Mellor (Wizards)

Half-time: 18-10

Referee: Chris Dean

Scoring sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 18-4, 18-10, 18-16, 18-18, 24-18, 24-24, 30-24