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Wolves 22 Catalans Dragons 18
WARRINGTON had to battle hard to beat off a determined challenge from Challenge Cup finalists Catalans Dragons.
Their 22-18 victory pushed them back up to fifth spot in the Super League and after the match coach Paul Cullen was full of praise for his men.
He said: “It was a performance of great character and I couldn’t be more pleased.
“This has been one of the toughest weeks for us. Medically we have been battered and I don’t know how these guys got themselves on to the field.”
Catalans certainly were not holding themselves back for next weekend’s Carnegie Challenge Cup final. Only former Wolves forward Jerome Guisset was rested ahead of the Wembley trip.
The Dragons battled throughout, scoring three ties, but the Wolves managed five of their own to claim victory.
Brent Grose went over twice while Chris Riley, Kevin Penny and Rob Parker also got crucial scores.
Warrington’s victory would have been more comfortable if the normally reliable Lee Briers had not missed four attempts at goal and Ben Westwood one.
Riley opened the scoring after 13 minutes when he took Jon Clarke's long pass to go over in the corner but Lee Briers missed the conversion.
The Dragons levelled nine minutes later when full-back Clint Greenshields crossed wide out and Stacey Jones edged his side in front with the conversion.
Penny then claimed his 11th try in only 10 starts before Grose went over for his first try seven minutes before the break.
Briers, furious over referee Steve Ganson's decision to refer the try to video referee Phil Bentham for a possible obstruction, was sin-binned for dissent and, in his absence, Westwood missed the conversion.
The Dragons drew level for a second time three minutes into the second half through Jones but their lead was short-lived as Grose went through their defence for his second try on 46 minutes. Then Briers broke clear to send prop Parker over for his first try of the season.
After three misses, Briers at last found the target with the goal to stretch the Wolves' lead to 22-12 before Justin Murphy's earned late consolation effort for the visitors.
After the match, Cullen said: "It wasn't the best we've been all year but it was the bravest by a mile.
"We had eight players out of 24 unavailable and medically it's been the probably the hardest week since I came back to the club five years ago.
"Full credit to the Catalans, who didn't come here to give the game away, and I was really pleased the guys toughed it out."
Wolves battle back
into the top six
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON had to battle hard to beat off a determined challenge from Challenge Cup finalists Catalans Dragons.
Their 22-18 victory pushed them back up to fifth spot in the Super League and after the match coach Paul Cullen was full of praise for his men.
He said: “It was a performance of great character and I couldn’t be more pleased.
“This has been one of the toughest weeks for us. Medically we have been battered and I don’t know how these guys got themselves on to the field.”
Catalans certainly were not holding themselves back for next weekend’s Carnegie Challenge Cup final. Only former Wolves forward Jerome Guisset was rested ahead of the Wembley trip.
The Dragons battled throughout, scoring three ties, but the Wolves managed five of their own to claim victory.
Brent Grose went over twice while Chris Riley, Kevin Penny and Rob Parker also got crucial scores.
Warrington’s victory would have been more comfortable if the normally reliable Lee Briers had not missed four attempts at goal and Ben Westwood one.
Riley opened the scoring after 13 minutes when he took Jon Clarke's long pass to go over in the corner but Lee Briers missed the conversion.
The Dragons levelled nine minutes later when full-back Clint Greenshields crossed wide out and Stacey Jones edged his side in front with the conversion.
Penny then claimed his 11th try in only 10 starts before Grose went over for his first try seven minutes before the break.
Briers, furious over referee Steve Ganson's decision to refer the try to video referee Phil Bentham for a possible obstruction, was sin-binned for dissent and, in his absence, Westwood missed the conversion.
The Dragons drew level for a second time three minutes into the second half through Jones but their lead was short-lived as Grose went through their defence for his second try on 46 minutes. Then Briers broke clear to send prop Parker over for his first try of the season.
After three misses, Briers at last found the target with the goal to stretch the Wolves' lead to 22-12 before Justin Murphy's earned late consolation effort for the visitors.
After the match, Cullen said: "It wasn't the best we've been all year but it was the bravest by a mile.
"We had eight players out of 24 unavailable and medically it's been the probably the hardest week since I came back to the club five years ago.
"Full credit to the Catalans, who didn't come here to give the game away, and I was really pleased the guys toughed it out."
