Warrington Beat Wakefield To Extend Winning Start

59 Comments


Warrington Wolves (14) 27


Tries: Sipley, Hopoate, Smith, King Goals: Sneyd 5 Drop goal: Sneyd


Wakefield Trinity (2) 16


Tries: Jowitt, Myers, Pratt Goals: Jowitt 2


Warrington made it through a strong Wakefield fightback in the 2nd half to make it two wins from two in Super League.


The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend because of Hull Kingston Rovers' participation in the World Club Challenge, seemed to have actually taken a firm grip on the video game in the first half.


Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, together with the dependable kicking of Marc Sneyd, had them 14-2 up at the break.


Trinity, who chalked up their first win of the season at Huddersfield recently, returned well as Jake Trueman brilliantly produced pursues Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.


Wire replied as Australian beginner Josh Smith crossed for his first shot but Oliver Pratt's score for Trinity set up a nervy ending, with the outcome settled by Sneyd's drop objective and Toby King's late shot.


Wire provided further evidence that they could make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd provided a kicking masterclass and they had the defensive strength to hold company as Trinity came great.


Wakefield had won the previous three conferences of these 2, however they were quickly in trouble as Sneyd slotted over a penalty and then video referee Chris Kendall reversed an on-field decision of "no try" to offer Sipley 4 points.


A couple of minutes later, Hopoate supported Danny Walker's break to streak away for another shot for 14-0.


Wire appeared to have made a pricey error as they to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by dedicating repeat offenses which saw Sipley sin-binned and Jowitt kick the resulting penalty to give his side a toe-hold.


That became a firmer platform early in the 2nd half as Trinity made use of the additional man, Trueman slinging a great pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.


Sipley's very first act on going back to the field was a ruck violation which resulted in Trueman developing an even much better looping cut-out pass and Myers finished to cut the cause simply four points.


That stimulated Wire into action after a drop in tempo and Sneyd's boot took control as he cracked the ball out to Smith, playing first-class rugby for the very first time, to score his very first try, which Sneyd transformed and after that included a penalty to offer his side breathing area.


Pratt then got on the end of a great kick by Jack Sinfield to score in the corner and when Jowitt remarkably nailed the tough conversion, the game was back in the balance.


Wakefield seemed particular to score as Myers spotted for the corner but 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his attacking expertise versus St Helens, produced a splendid tackle to bundle him into touch and keep the lead.


Sneyd dropped a goal and then cracked another fragile kick to the corner for Smith to get and pass in mid-air for King to remove any doubt.


Six-try St Helens thrash Catalans in Perpignan


'A truly premium video game'


"It was an actually top quality video game. Both sides were at 90-something percent conclusion.


"They were physical and we had to ride out the first half but the game lost its method a bit in the 2nd half - [it was] not down to the gamers, it just got a bit stop-start.


"In the first half we might have assaulted a little much better. There are areas we can look at where we can challenge a bit more and ask a couple of more questions.


"The way the game is going, it will take groups eight to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the same with us. Our perseverance was excellent at times and we were 100% in the first half until the unfortunate sin-binning."


Warrington Wolves: Taylor-Wray; Thewlis, King, Hopoate, Smith; Williams, Sneyd; Yates, Walker, Byrne, Stone, Harrison, Currie.


Replacements: Sipley, Crowther, Philbin, Tanginoa.


Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt; Pratt, Scott, Hall, Myers; Sinfield, Trueman; McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Nikotemo, Vagana, Tevaga.


Replacements: Storton, Pitts, Faatili, Smith.


Referee: Liam Rush