KURT Gidley’s kicking boots saw Warrington back in the title race with a hard earned 20-18 victory over Catalan Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The veteran Aussie kept his cool and twice converted crucial penalties in the final quarter to secure victory in a tight game- the second one coming just seven minutes from time after he had been the victim of a high shot.
It could have been all so different if referee Campbell hadn’t called play back after the visitors thought they had scored a length of the field try, which was ruled out by the video referee with the Wolves awarded a penalty instead. Gidley dusted himself down and calmly stepped up to slot the ball over from out wide to help secure victory.
The Dragons took the lead on seven minutes when Pat Roberts slotted over a penalty after Ashton Sims was penalised for a high shot.
But Warrington hit back as Chris Sandow showed his class and pace to open up the defence to send Ryan Atkins under the sticks. Gidley added the extra sto make it 6-2.
Back came the Dragons as Matty Russell lost the ball allowing Bousquet to go under the sticks and Richards add the extras to make it 6-8.
The lead changed hands again almost straight from the kick off as the Dragons knocked on allowing tghe ball to get out wide for Kevin Penny to score in the corner. Gidley couldn’t find the target making it 10-8 on 17 minutes.
Warrington’s narrow lead lasted until the 28th minute when a chip kick to the corner was touched down by Yaha, with Richards converting from out wide to make it it 10-14. The Dragons extended their lead on 34 minutes when Chris Hill was penalised for a high tackle and Richards slotted over the penalty to make it 10-16.
The Dragons finished the half with 12 men as Gigot was sin binned for a spear tackle on Atkins.
After the interval Warrington leveled the scores thanks to a fine individual try from the lively Brad Dwyer who stretched out to score, injuring himself in the process. Gidley goaled to make it 16-16.
Catalan edged back in the lead with a Richards penalty.
Defences were now on top although the Wolves were unlucky to have two efforts ruled out by the video referee, once for Russell and once for Daryl Clark.
Gidley added a penalty to level the scores and then kept his cool to slot over what turned out to be the winning kick seven minutes from time.
Despite the victory and two points Head of Coaching Tony Smith was disappointed by the “performance” and the “lack of intensity.”
He added that there was little in the performance to put any fear in Widnes ahead of next week’s important Challenge Cuip Quarter Final match at the Halliwell Jones.
Ryan Atkins on his way to the line PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
Atkins celebrates PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
Tempers boil over PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
Brad Dwyer reaches for the line PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
Daryl Clark heads for the Line PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
CLICK HERE FOR A GALLERY OF OVER 40 PIX by Eddie Whitham
Wolves: Ratchford, Russell, Evans, Atkins, Penny, Gidley, Sandow, Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Hughes, Westerman.
Subs: Dwyer, Westwood, Bailey, Cox.
Dragons, Escare, Broughton, Gigot, Richards, Yaha, Carney, Albert, Bousquet, Pelissier, Maria, Stewart, Casty, Baitieri.
Subs: Bosc, Margalet, Navarrete, Dezzaria.
