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 made it through 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' involvement on the planet Club Challenge, appeared to have taken a company 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 very first win of the season at Huddersfield recently, came back well as Jake Trueman brilliantly produced tries for Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.


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


Wire offered more proof that they might make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd gave a kicking masterclass and they had the protective strength to hold firm as Trinity came good.


Wakefield had won the previous three conferences of these 2, however they were quickly in trouble as Sneyd slotted over a charge and then video referee Chris Kendall reversed an on-field decision of "no try" to provide 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 made an expensive error as they reacted to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by committing 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 second half as Trinity used the extra male, Trueman slinging a great pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.


Sipley's first act on returning to the field was a ruck infringement which led to Trueman creating an even much better looping cut-out pass and Myers ended up to cut the cause just 4 points.


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


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


Wakefield appeared specific to score as Myers streaked for the corner however 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his assaulting prowess against St Helens, produced a stunning take on 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 grab and pass in mid-air for King to get rid of any doubt.


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'An actually top quality game'


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


"They were physical and we needed to ride out the first half however the game lost its method a bit in the second 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 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 teams 8 to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the exact same with us. Our persistence was proficient at times and we were 100% in the very first half up 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