WARRINGTON Wolves coasted to a 30-12 win over Widnes to maintain top spot in the Super League table.
It was the fourth time this season that they have got the better of their neighbours, and the result was never in doubt after the Wolves shrugged off a spirited first quarter.
Widnes should have taken the lead when Rhys Hanbury released Charly Runciman down the left, but Hanbury was unable to collect the return pass for what would have been a walk in try.
The Wolves made the visitors pay for their wastefulness as Chris Hill barged through the line and went 30 metres unopposed for the game’s opening try.
Skipper .@Chrishilly1987 bursts through for the first .@wolvesrl try v .@WidnesRL 6-0 pic.twitter.com/YNZXxLNX7P
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) September 9, 2016
Kurt Gidley added the extras and then tagged on a penalty after the Wolves had withstood a sustained period of Widnes pressure on their line.
And Tony Smith’s men didn’t look back. From the kick off they went up the other end and Ashton Sims profited from Morgan Smith’s dab kick from close to the line.
Penalty from .@kurt_gidley followed by try .@ashtonsims26 goaled by Gidley makes it 14-0 .@wolvesrl v .@WidnesRL pic.twitter.com/pztiuOzkKx
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) September 9, 2016
Smith then got himself on the scoresheet as the Wolves put themselves 20-0 to the good at half time.
Debut try for .@wolvesrl Morgan Smith superbly goaled by .@kurt_gidley makes it 20-0 .@WidnesRL pic.twitter.com/jsptYtRXzW
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) September 9, 2016
Any unlikely chance of a Widnes comeback was diminished when Joe Philbin notched the first try of the second half, taking on Gidley’s short ball to cross over by the sticks.
But the Vikings did manage to get on the scoresheet through Warrington-born Joe Mellor, who raced in off Matt Whitley’s offload.
The final quarter saw opposing wingers Matty Russell and Corey Thompson trade scores to round off the game.
.@mattyrussell3 scores in the corner to make it .@wolvesrl 30-6 .@WidnesRL after 69 mins pic.twitter.com/g89ib8KU8i
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) September 9, 2016
After the hooter, news filtered through of Hull’s defeat to Wigan meaning the Wolves now sit three points clear at the top with just two games to play and having the chance of winning he league leaders’ shield at home to Wigan next Friday.
Chris Hill on his way to the try line – PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
Chris Hill celebrates PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
Ashton Sims wins the race to the ball PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
Matty Russell gets in at the corner PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
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