WARRINGTON Wolves will host Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals after a 66-10 win over Toronto Wolfpack.
They didn’t have it all their own way in the historic first meeting between the two sides though, with the Wolfpack leading 10-6 before losing their discipline on the stroke of half time as they had a man sent off and three sinbinned in total.
After Warrington opened the scoring early in the second half, they never looked back as they registered a tenth successive win, running in 12 tries.
Toronto started playing some entertaining and expansive rugby league and they twice unlocked the Wolves defence in the opening 14 minutes.
First an excellent pass by ex-Wolves full-back Gareth O’Brien put Adam Higson over in the right corner, and then on the opposite side, Liam Kay used the overlap to get outside Josh Charnley for 8-0.
The first real display of what was to come in terms of ill discipline came on 22 minutes when there was afters involving another former Warrington player, Ashton Sims, after Mike Cooper had got the Wolves on the board with a try to the left of the posts.
Sims was warned following that incident but the Wolfpack didn’t heed that warning, and six minutes later they were reduced to 12 men when Liam Kay was sent to the sinbin for a tip tackle on Charnley.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Championship side’s defence stood firm, with the exception of a Kevin Brown dummy through for a would-be try, which was ruled out by the video referee due to obstruction.
Ryan Brierley converted a penalty on 37 minutes to put the Wolfpack 10-6 up before they fell apart.
Andrew Dixon and Harvey Livett had a coming together following a play the ball and Dixon was sent off after throwing a punch at the youngster, though Bryson Goodwin was perhaps fortunate not to be reprimanded himself for his involvement in the incident.
It became a double hammer blow for the Canadians as the Wolves took the lead on the stroke of half time, Charnley touching down in the corner and Goodwin converting for 12-10.
The Wolves broke through immediately in the second half to score through Livett inside the first minute and they made the extra man pay three minutes later when Ben Murdoch-Masila stretched the lead to 22-10.
Toronto’s gameplan was falling apart and captain Josh McCrone was sinbinned for dissent on 47 minutes to reduce them to 11 men.
After a further Wolves try, the 11 men became 10 when Darcy Lussick became the third Wolfpack player to receive a yellow card on the afternoon.
It became a procession after that, Ben Westwood making it 34-10 on 52 minutes before two tries from Tom Lineham either side of a Tyrone Roberts score.
Murdoch-Masila and Charnley added their second tries before Lineham completed his hat-trick in the final minute to round off the win.
After the match Warrington Head Coach Steve Price, who had just seen his side record a 10th straight win said: “I was disappointed with our first half, I thought we fell down to their level. I knew they would come with a plan to slow the game down and I was disappointed with certain aspects of our first half – falling into the trap of ill discipline.
“When we started to run the ball direct and be the footy team I know we are capable of, we saw some fantastic tries.
“There were 24 penalties in the game, which is not a great look for the sport, but when we applied ourselves and were disciplined, the points came.”
Warrington’s reward is a home quarter-final draw against Wigan Warriors to be played between May 31 and June 3.
Tom Linheam who scored a hat-trick – Picture Eddie Whitham
Two more tries for Josh Charnley -Picture Eddie Whitham
Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, Goodwin, Atkins, Charnley, Brown, Roberts, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Livett, Hughes, Westwood. Subs: Philbin, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Akauola.
Toronto: O’Brien, Higson, Stanley, Worthington, Kay, McCrone, Brierley, Lussick, Beswick, Sims, Dixon, Paterson, Emmitt. Subs: Sidlow, Bussey, Ackers, Hopkins.
CLICK HERE for a gallery of more than 60 photos by Eddie Whitham
🚢 “All aboard HMS Showboat!”
Safe to say @Joshuacharnley enjoyed his second try this afternoon! pic.twitter.com/YKdwbp7EqO
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) May 13, 2018
One of the best finishers out there 🙌🙌🙌@TomLineham completed his hat-trick for @wolvesrl in style! pic.twitter.com/pBKoAsujjW
— The Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) May 13, 2018
“It will be another big game for us and it’ll be a great Cup tie.”@bennie_westwood is looking forward to a quarter-final showdown with Wigan following today’s Challenge Cup win over Toronto pic.twitter.com/lZF5ocj01l
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) May 13, 2018
Quarter-final draw
St Helens v Hull FC
Leeds Rhinos v Leigh Centurions
Huddersfield Giants v Catalans Dragons
Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors
