Warrington Wolves survive scare to ease Super League relegation worries

Pictures Eddie Whitham

WARRINGTON Wolves survived a scare to ease their Super League relegation worries with a 32-18 win over bottom club Toulouse.

With just four points separating the two sides before kick-off, it was the key game in the run-in and when the Wolves raced in to a 12-0 lead after a commanding start, it looked like they were half way there.

But the French side had other ideas, and turned the game on its head with three tries to lead at half-time.

Two yellow cards saw Toulouse spend half of the second period down to 12 men, and Warrington eventually hit the front before two late tries made sure.

Ben Currie went short early on before Oliver Holmes got on the end of Matty Ashton’s kick inside to open the scoring on nine minutes.

They backed that up five minutes later when Matt Dufty on his home debut created space for Connor Wrench to score in the corner.

Wrench scores in the corner – Picture Eddie Whitham

Warrington Wolves probably ought to have been more than 12-0 up by the half hour mark, and they were made to pay by the visitors.

The introduction of Eloi Pelissier livened up the French side, and Corey Norman got them on the board.

And then when Thomas Mikaele stripped the ball out of a tackle close to the line, Pelissier reacted first to touch down the loose ball in goal, confirmed by the video referee.

The livewire hooker then got a try of his own to leave the Halliwell Jones Stadium crowd stunned.

A penalty on the hooter at least enabled Warrington to reduce arrears to 18-14.

The Wolves started the second half well and Stefan Ratchford thought he had touched down four minutes in when he got on the end of a George Williams kick.

But the video referee replays showed he hadn’t managed to ground the ball, but Toulouse forward Joe Bretherton was sinbinned for interfering with Ratchford as he ran through.

He had barely returned to the pitch when Wrench got his second try in the corner to level the scores at 18-18.

A mistake gifted Warrington field position again and when Lambert Belmas was penalised for a shoulder charge, Ratchford took a penalty shot at goal to restore the hosts’ lead.

Toulouse had a second stint with 12 when Harrison Hansen, making his 300th Super League appearance, was sent to the sin bin for dissent.

But it was only when Dufty fed George Williams under the posts on 68 minutes that Warrington could finally relax, as they opened up a two score lead.

George Williams scores under the posts – Picture Eddie Whitham

Ratchford had converted that try for 26-18 and then in the final minute, Currie eased over a try to seal the win.

Warrington Wolves : Dufty, Wrench, Mata’utia, Wardle, Ashton, Ratchford, Williams, Harrison, D Clark, Bullock, Currie, Nicholson, Holmes. Subs: J Clark, Mulhern, Walker, Mikaele.

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Schaumkel, Jussaume, Hankinson, Russell, Norman, Gigot, Navarrete, Peats, Alvaro, Bretherton, Peyroux, Marion. Subs: Pelissier, Hansen, Belmas, Sangare.