WARRINGTON Wolves edged to an 18-10 win at Hull KR to continue their unbeaten start to the Super League season.
The Wolves struggled last season but the performance of Daryl Powell’s side on a bitterly cold night at Craven Park showed why they are serious contenders this term.
Successive defeats for Willie Peters’ Rovers means there is still work to be done as he looks for a consistent line-up following a second home loss in a row.
The hosts were without suspended captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall and the injured Jordan Abdull but were able to bring back Lachlan Coote at full-back.
A surprise home defeat to Leigh Leopards last time out had ended their 100 per cent start to the season whereas Warrington went into the game with three wins from as many games and sat second in the table, two places above Rovers.
Warrington enjoyed some early pressure but the Rovers defence held firm.
And it was the hosts who opened the scoring nine minutes into the game as Frankie Halton slipped out of a tackle and forced his way over following a Rowan Milnes pass, and Coote added the extras.
Warrington again forced their way deep into Rovers territory, aided by more mistakes by the home side, but the defence held firm.
The pressure finally told, with the Wolves drawing level midway through the first half when Thomas Mikaele crossed and Stefan Ratchford kicked the conversion.
Mikaele powers his way through for @WarringtonRLFC 😤#SuperLeague #SLHKRWar pic.twitter.com/kTkZbTFHM5
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 10, 2023
The visitors went ahead nine minutes before the break as Matty Nicholson was first to touch down a George Williams grubber kick, with Ratchford again kicking the conversion.
Rovers starter the second half well, pinning Warrington in their half, and Coote’s clever pass set up Halton for his second try – although the full-back’s missed conversion left his side two points in arrears.
Mikey Lewis just failed to gather the ball from his own chip as Rovers put more pressure on the Warrington defence.
As the battle for dominance continued both sides were guilty of mistakes which cost them good field position.
A pivotal moment came in the 70th minute as Sam Kasiano was penalised for a high tackle but Coote missed the penalty and the chance to level the scores.
Warrington made Rovers pay as Paul Vaughan finished off a late move for his side’s third try and Ratchford kicked the extras after the final hooter.
Hull KR: Coote, Senior, Opacic, Wood, Hall, Milnes, Lewis, Luckley, Parcell, King, Halton, Batchelor, Hadley. Subs: Sue, Litten, Kennedy, Storton.
Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, Mata’utia, Ratchford, Ashton, Williams, Drinkwater, Mikaele, Clark, Vaughan, Currie, Nicholson, Kasiano. Subs: Walker, Bullock, Whitehead, Minikin.
All the highlights @hullkrofficial 10 @WarringtonRLFC 18 pic.twitter.com/rFTCASP0XZ
— What would Brian Bevan say? 🇺🇦🎙🎧 (@WhatBevan) March 11, 2023
Perfect start 💯@WarringtonRLFC‘s Daryl Powell is February’s @Betfred Coach of the Month 💪#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/pywItDeY1D
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 10, 2023
