PICTURES EDDIE WHITHAM
DESPITE getting off to a flying start thanks to a try after just nine minutes by new signing Andre Savelio Warrington Wolves lost out 20-12 at Catalans Dragons.
In a scrappy first half Wolves’ old boy Richie Myler levelled the scores after a poor back pass from Rhys Evans which went straight into the hands of his former team mate.
With both tries converted the scores were locked 6-6 at the break with the Wolves having to dig deep in defence.
Catalans took the lead after 48 minutes following a knock on from Crosby gave the hosts possession from the scrum. The pressure told as Bird went over with Walsh adding the extra to make it 12-6.
A 40-20 from Dec Patton on 58 minutes gave the Wolves hope but once again in the wet conditions Warrington’s promising atack broke down following a knock on by Savelio.
More pressure from the Wolves broke down on 67 minutes, this time Gidley with the knock on.
Warrington’s frustrations saw a penalty conceded for holding down, giving Walsh he chance to extend the lead to 14-6.
With the clock ticking down Warrington were given some hope when Rhys Evans went over in the corner after good work from acting centre Ashton Sims! Patton kept his cool to slot over a fine conversion to make it 14-12.
But from the kick off Warrington tried to keep the ball alive and conceded yet another knock on with Catlanas taking full advantage with Williame crashing over in the dying seconds and Walsh adding the extra to complete the scoring at 20-12.
After the match Head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith said: “It was a pretty average game standard wise. There were too many errors, too many handling errors and too many penalties from us. It’s a tough place to come to and get your fair share; it’s always like that and we know that before we come.
“You don’t get many opportunities to attack with the ball in good areas of the park so when you do you’ve got to be better at it. I was really proud of my boys’ efforts defensively though. I thought they were terrific. We had a bit of a brain explosion from Rhys in the first half but aside from that we didn’t look like we were going to get scored against so that was pleasing. The next try came when we were down to 12 men and kept turning the ball over in our own quarter line; it had to crack eventually but I was proud of their efforts defensively. And then the one right at the back end of the game after a second tackle error again to try and win the game; we need to be better than that, we need to execute even when we get last chances to steal games we need to be better. In terms of a game I haven’t seen a high quality yet from any team so far.
“We’ve got a game against Brisbane next week so we can go and put some things back into play then and hopefully get some troops back as well. We’ve still got some names on the side-lines at the moment; we might have Bennie Westwood and Kev Brown back next week, they are a possibility, but we are still a few weeks off with Hilly and Stef so we still have a few players to return.
“We worked hard in defence and for each other it was just some of the execution – the skill in passing and catching – from both teams was pretty average.”
DRAGONS:Williame; Broughton, Inu, Duport, Yaha; Walsh, Myler; Moa, Aiton, Casty, Garcia, Horo, Bird. Subs: Bousquet, Bosc, Baitieri, Simon
WOLVES: Russell; Evans, T King, Atkins, Lineham; Patton, Gidley; Cooper, Clark, Sims, Savelio, Hughes, Westerman. Subs: Dwyer, Crosby, Livett, Philbin.
