A CHANGE in coach failed to bring about a change in fortune for Warrington Wolves as they were well beaten at home by Catalans Dragons.
The Super League leaders proved too strong for the hosts in Gary Chambers’ first game in temporary charge following the departure of Daryl Powell.
Individual mistakes didn’t help Warrington in what was always going to be a tough fixture at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
A last tackle kick created the first Catalans try, with Peter Mata’utia failing to deal with it in the air and the ball bounced up kindly for Wigan-bound Adam Keighran to open the scoring.
A dropped catch by Matt Dufty while straddling the try line to defuse a high kick then gifted the field position for Catalans to double their lead through Tom Davies in the right corner.
It was 18-0 when Mitchell Pearce scored a third, again converted by Keighran.
But Warrington gave themselves hope when Ben Currie ran a fine line on to a short George Williams pass to touch on under the posts.
Warrington lost Stefan Ratchford to a head injury at half time though they started the second half with more intent.
Unfortunately they failed to trouble the scorers, and were guilty of over enthusiasm for a spell, particularly when Joe Philbin played the ball to no dummy half which gifted Catalans possession and released the pressure.
When Matt Whitley won the race to a Tyrone May kick in goal, the game was effectively done as a contest.
Matt Ikuvalu, moments after he was denied by the video referee following a try saving tackle by Dufty, then got on the end of a Pearce kick.
The Wolves did have the final say when Josh Thewlis crossed in the corner but went down 30-10.
Despite the defeat, Warrington move back up to fifth in the table courtesy of Hull KR’s drubbing at Wigan.
