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 2 wins from two in Super League.


The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend due to the fact that 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, in addition to the trusted 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 created pursues Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.


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


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


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


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


Wire appeared to have made an expensive error 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 charge to provide his side a toe-hold.


That became a firmer platform early in the second half as Trinity used the additional guy, Trueman slinging a great 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 infringement which resulted in Trueman creating an even better looping cut-out pass and Myers completed to cut the cause just 4 points.


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


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


Wakefield seemed particular to score as Myers streaked for the corner but 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his attacking prowess versus St Helens, produced a stunning deal with to bundle him into touch and maintain the lead.


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


Six-try St Helens thrash Catalans in Perpignan


'An actually top game'


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


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


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


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