Warrington Beat Wakefield To Extend Winning Start

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


The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend since of Hull Kingston Rovers' participation on the planet Club Challenge, appeared to have actually taken a company grip on the game in the very first half.


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


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


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


Wire offered further proof that they could make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd offered a kicking masterclass and they had the defensive strength to hold firm as Trinity came excellent.


Wakefield had won the previous three meetings of these 2, but they were soon in problem as Sneyd slotted over a penalty and then video referee Chris Kendall overturned an on-field verdict of "no try" to provide Sipley four points.


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


Wire appeared to have made a costly mistake as they reacted to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by committing repeat offences which saw Sipley sin-binned and Jowitt kick the resulting penalty to provide his side a toe-hold.


That became a firmer platform early in the second half as Trinity utilized the extra guy, Trueman slinging a fine pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.


Sipley's very first act upon going back to the field was a ruck violation which led to Trueman coming up with an even much better looping cut-out pass and Myers completed to cut the result in simply four points.


That spurred Wire into action after a drop in pace and Sneyd's boot took control as he cracked the ball out to Smith, playing superior rugby for the first time, to score his first try, which Sneyd converted and then included a penalty to offer his side breathing time.


Pratt then got on completion of a fine kick by Jack Sinfield to score in the corner and when Jowitt remarkably nailed the difficult conversion, the video game was back in the balance.


Wakefield appeared particular to score as Myers streaked for the corner however 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his attacking prowess versus St Helens, produced a take on to bundle him into touch and retain the lead.


Sneyd dropped a goal and after that broke another fragile kick to the corner for Smith to get and pass in mid-air for King to get rid of any doubt.


Six-try St Helens thrash Catalans in Perpignan


'A truly top quality video game'


"It was a truly premium game. Both sides were at 90-something percent completion.


"They were physical and we needed to ride out the very first half however the video game lost its method a bit in the second half - [it was] not down to the players, it just got a bit stop-start.


"In the first half we could have assaulted a little better. There are locations we can look at where we can challenge a little bit more and ask a few more questions.


"The way the game is going, it will take groups eight to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the exact same with us. Our perseverance was proficient at times and we were 100% in the very first half up until the regrettable 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