Wolves suffer back to back defeats!

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WARRINGTON Wolves suffered their first back to back defeats for nearly two years as arch rivals St Helens made it 14 wins from 15 visits to the Halliwell Jones stadium with a 22-10 victory.
It was a bitter swet return for Warrington’s Chris Bridge (pictured top) who marked his return from a length injury absence with a brace of tries.
But there was little else to cheer as the Wolves were blown away with three tries in the first 23 minutes from the visitors who stood resolute in defence despite a second half barrage from the hosts.
St Helens’s imposing first-half display, inspired by hooker James Roby, set the platform for victory as Jordan Turner, Lance Hohaia and Francis Meli all crossed to stun the hosts, who replied through Bridge before the hooter.
A Jonny Lomax penalty and a try from the impressive Roby extended the Saints lead after the break, with Bridge’s second score a late consolation in an improved second-half showing.
The Wolves lost their unbeaten record last week in a surprise defeat by Hull KR and, despite welcoming back key players Michael and Joel Monaghan, failed to return to winning ways against a rampant Saints, crashing to back to back defeats for the first time since April 2011!
It took Saints just six minutes to open the scoring when Turner took a short ball from Jonny Lomax to go over and then half-back Hohaia stepped through under pressure to add to the score before the quarter of an hour mark.
Fats moving hands from the influential Roby, Tony Puletua and Jon Wilkin fed Lomax, and he looped wide to Meli who steamed through Ratchford to add to Warrington’s woes.
Lomax’s kicking had seen him land just one of the conversions, and the Wolves were able to claw back into the game late on when Bridge got his first try.
In the second half Warrington were much improved but couldn’t find a way through the resolute defence, winger Chris Riley going closest in the corner.
Lomax kicked a penalty from 30 yards out to ease the pressure and when Anthony Laffranchi forced Chris Hill to spill the ball, Roby was on hand to run in under the posts to put the game to bed.
Bridge scored his second of the match but it was little more than consolation for the Wolves who were left licking their wounds.

Try Scorer Chris Bridge

TEAMS:

Wolves: Hodgson; Riley, Bridge, Atkins, J. Monaghan; Ratchford, Myler; Wood, M. Monaghan, Hill, Grix, Westwood, Cooper.
Replacements: Carvell, Higham, McCarthy, Currie.

St Helens: Lomax; Gardner, Turner, Jones, Meli; Hohaia, Wilkin; Laffranchi, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Manu, Flanagan.

Replacements: Puletua, Clough, Walker, Greenwood.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (RFL).


Mike Cooper takes on the Saints defence


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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