Wolves snatch dramatic derby victory

PICTURES: EDDIE WHITHAM

CAPTAIN Joel Monaghan scored a try in the dying seconds as Warrington Wolves pinched a dramatic 22-20 victory over rivals Widnes in the local derby.

The Vikings had fought back from 14-4 down to lead 20-18, and just as it looked like they’d done enough to secure a home and away double over Tony Smith’s side, Monaghan took a pass close to the touchline and then managed to reach over and score the decisive try.

It was a hard-fought and close game throughout, with just one try in the opening 20 minutes of the game. That went to Warrington, who had the bulk of the territorial advantage in the first quarter, when they spread the ball out wide for Gene Ormsby to cross in the left corner.

Widnes levelled things up at 4-4 on 22 minutes, when Jack Owens took on Rhys Hanbury’s pass close to the touchline to crawl over.

But the hosts appeared to have taken charge of the game around the half hour mark, when a quick fire double from Monaghan and Daryl Clark, following a break from Ben Westwood, had them 14-4 to the good.

Widnes ended the half with sustained pressure on the Wolves line for the first time in the half, and they got their reward for forcing two goal line drop outs, as Paddy Flynn went over from a sublime Kevin Brown pass on the hooter to make it 14-8 at half time.

Within seven minutes of the restart, Widnes had levelled things up, Brown dummying his way through the line and then crashing over Stefan Ratchford to touchdown under the posts.

Brown then stole the ball from Westwood one-on-one before racing 60 metres for a fine solo try, his second of the game, and Widnes had the lead for the first time.

That left 23 minutes for Widnes to hold on, and ultimately they’d fall short.

Warrington got back within touching distance of victory thanks to Westwood’s try, crashing over from dummy half in the corner, for 20-18, and the Wolves then laid siege on the Widnes line.

A chip kick forward with two minutes to go resulted in Ratchford forcing a drop out with a tackle on Flynn, and with seconds left on the clock, Monaghan kept his cool to score in the right corner to snatch the win and lift Warrington in to the top four.

Warrington Wolves: Ratchford; Monaghan, Bridge, Atkins, Ormsby; Patton, Myler; Hill, Higham, England, Currie, Westwood, Harrison.

Replacements: Clark, Asotasi, Sims, Laithwaite.

Widnes Vikings: Hanbury; Flynn, Marsh, Dean, Owens; Brown, Mellor; O’Carroll, White, Gerrard, Tickle, Galea, Isa.

Replacements: Clarkson, Heremaia, Joseph, Manuokafoa.

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