PICTURES EDDIE WHITHAM
WARRINGTON Wolves came from behind to maintain their recent dominance over local rivals Widnes Vikings with a 22-6 victory at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Matty Russell gave Warrington a dream start but Joe Mellor’s great solo try which was converted gave Widnes a narrow lead at the break.
Recent new signing Peta Hiku put Warrington back in front with his first score for the club before they eased clear through Kevin Brown’s fourth try of the campaign against his former club, with Russell adding a second to put the game out of reach.
The sides will now meet again in the Qualifiers as they bid to retain their top-flight status for next season – with Warrington victorious in the last nine previous outings, including friendlies.
Warrington will go into the Qualifiers with confidence after three successive wins and four wins in their last five outings.
Widnes, who have now lost four games in a row, could end up finishing bottom of the table if the Centurions beat Salford tomorow, Friday.
After the match Head of Coaching Tony Smith said he was pleased his side had “picked things up” in the second half, although there was still work to be done.
He was also pleased with the half-back pairing of Brown and Dec Patton in the second half and with Kurt Gidley likely to be sidelines for several weeks, it looks set to be the likely pairing moving into the qualifiers.
Warrington (4) 22
Tries: Russell 2, Hiku, Brown, Goals: Ratchford 3
Widnes (6) 6
Tries: Mellor Goal: Marsh
Warrington: Ratchford, Russell, Hiku, Atkins, Lineham, Patton, Brown, Cooper, Clark, Sims, Jullien, Hughes, Philbin.
Replacements: Currie, G. King, Savelio, Smith.
Widnes: Thompson, Armstrong, Chamberlain, Runciman, Marsh, Mellor, B. Walker, J. Chapelhow, Johnstone, Dudson, Whitley, Olbison, Cahill.
Replacements: Gerrard, Burke, D. Walker, T. Chapelhow.
Referee: Robert Hicks
Picture Eddie Whitham
