Warrington Beat Wakefield To Extend Winning Start

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Warrington Wolves (14) 27


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


Wakefield Trinity (2) 16


Tries: Jowitt, Myers, Pratt Goals: Jowitt 2


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


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


Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, together with the trustworthy 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 remarkably created pursues Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.


Wire replied as Australian newcomer Josh Smith crossed for his very first try but Oliver Pratt's rating for Trinity established a nervy ending, with the outcome settled by Sneyd's drop goal and Toby King's late shot.


Wire gave 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 resilience to hold company as Trinity came good.


Wakefield had actually won the previous 3 conferences of these 2, but they were soon in problem as Sneyd slotted over a charge and then video referee Chris Kendall overturned an on-field verdict of "no try" to give Sipley 4 points.


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


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


That ended up being a firmer platform early in the 2nd half as Trinity used the extra man, Trueman slinging a fine pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.


Sipley's first act upon going back to the field was a ruck violation which caused Trueman developing an even much better looping cut-out pass and Myers finished to cut the result in just four points.


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


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


Wakefield appeared specific to score as Myers spotted for the corner however 20 Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his assaulting prowess versus St Helens, produced a splendid take on to bundle him into touch and retain the lead.


Sneyd dropped an objective and after that broke 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 whip Catalans in Perpignan


'An actually premium game'


"It was a truly high-quality game. Both sides were at 90-something percent conclusion.


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


"In the very first half we might have attacked a little better. There are locations we can take a look at where we can challenge a bit more and ask a few more concerns.


"The way the video game is going, it will take groups 8 to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the very same with us. Our patience was good at times and we were 100% in the very first half till 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