Wolves off the mark with 10th straight win over Widnes

PICTURES EDDIE WHITHAM

WARRINGTON Wolves recorded their tenth successive win over Widnes and with it got off the mark this season with an 18-10 win at the Halton Stadium.

A brace of tries from Ryan Atkins proved enough for the Wolves in an entertaining game that saw referee Phil Bentham helped off injured in the second half after a collision with Widnes’ Chris Houston.

Atkins opened the scoring on eight minutes, taking in Dec Patton’s kick, and it was 10-0 on 13 minutes when Stefan Ratchford took a sharp inside pass by Ben Currie to round the full-back and touchdown.

Widnes built their way in to the game and they got on the board on 22 minutes when Joe Mellor’s neat dab through was grounded by Krisnan Inu for 10-4 at half time.

The second half was a repeat of the first as Atkins opened the scoring five minutes in, this time claiming a high Ratchford kick, Bryson Goodwin’s conversion making it 16-4.

That gave Widnes a lot to do and moments after Bentham was forced off, Warrington extended their lead via a Goodwin penalty and led 18-4 on the hour mark.

The game was heating up and a fracas after a play the ball denied Warrington a fourth try, Jack Hughes scoring from 40 metres with half the players on the field caught up in a scuffle on the Warrington left.

Widnes dragged their way back in to it on 65 minutes when Inu got up highest for a kick, and Tom Gilmore’s conversion made it 18-10.

Warrington were on the back foot and Widnes were throwing everything at them.

Ratchford got back to knock the ball out of Jay Chapelhow’s hands when a try looked inevitable and then Warrington’s task was made harder when Mike Cooper was sinbinned for the final nine minutes having interfered in the tackle after Olly Ashall had latched on to Danny Craven’s break.

But Widnes coughed up possession in good position with six minutes to go and that ultimately proved to be their final threat.

Patton wound down the clock with a few kicks to touch late on and Warrington recorded their first win under Steve Price.

After the game Price said: “I’m really proud of the boys tonight.

“It was a good result and an important win. It was a fantastic response after the first two matches and hopefully we can kick on now.”

Referee Bentham receives treatment – Picture Eddie Whitham

Widnes: Hanbury, Marsh, Inu, Whitley, Ashall-Bott, Mellor, Gilmore, Chapelhow, Heremaia, Cahill, Dean, Wilde, Houston. Subs: Walker, Burke, Craven, Olbison.

Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, Goodwin, Atkins, Russell, Brown, Patton, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Westwood. Subs: Murdoch-Masila, Crosby, Philbin, Smith.

“It was tough as derbies always are. It was great to come away with the win.”@domcrosby on tonight’s derby win over @WidnesRL pic.twitter.com/X5felHGcQJ

— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) February 16, 2018