Warrington Wolves bounce back with win over Wakefield

Pictures Eddie Whitham

WARRINGTON Wolves bounced back from their Challenge Cup disappointment with a 38-18 win over Wakefield.

Josh Charnley scored a second half hat-trick to take him up to fifth in the all-time Super League try scorers list, after the visitors had dug in to halt Warrington’s progress from 14-0 up.

It looked like being a routine evening for Warrington when Chris Hill and Ben Currie had them 12-0 up inside 15 minutes.

Chris Hill Picture Eddie Whitham

They opted to take a penalty at goal when they had Wakefield on the rack and that gave the Yorkshiremen, who had a delayed arrival due to traffic, a hint that there was a way back in to the game, and the introduction of David Fifita and Kyle Wood off the bench provided added impetus.

Fifita’s break was backed up by Wood, who went within a metre of the line, but Wakefield didn’t have to wait too much longer as Fifita crashed on to a short ball from Jacob Miller for 14-6.

They went close again through Fifita and though Warrington maintained their eight point cushion at half-time, the game was still open.

But the hosts came out firing at the start of the second half, as while they couldn’t get much change out of the Wakefield right side defence, Gareth Widdop and Blake Austin were twice able to open them up down the right – firstly to the benefit of Jake Mamo and then Charnley’s first on 50 minutes.

Although Joe Arundel’s try was a soft one to concede from a Warrington Wolves point of view, even at 26-12, Wolves had Trinity at arm’s length.

They added gloss to the scoreline in the final 10 minutes as Charnley added two more, before Lee Kershaw rounded off the scoring with a converted try on the hooter.

Mike Cooper – Picture Eddie Whitham

Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, Mamo, King, Charnley, Austin, Widdop, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Philbin. Subs: Mulhern, Davis, Akauola, Walker.

Tries: Hill, Currie, Mamo, Charnley 3. Goals: Widdop 7.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Kershaw, Lyne, Tupou, Kay, Miller, Lino, Battye, Walker, Arona, Pitts, Arundel, Westerman. Subs: Batchelor, Wood, Fifita, Aydin.

Tries: Fifita, Arundel, Kershaw. Goals: Lino 3.