A YOUNG Warrington Wolves side marked Sam Burgess’ first game in charge at the Halliwell Jones Stadium with a 46-40 win over Widnes.
In the first meeting between the two sides since Ryan Atkins’ testimonial game in 2019, Warrington fought back from an early 10 point deficit to run in eight tries against a relatively full strength Championship outfit.
Only Gil Dudson, Matty Russell and Brad Dwyer were recognised names from the first team squad, as fans got to see more of highly-rated half-back Leon Hayes and forwards Luke Thomas and Max Wood, amongst others.
Widnes got off to a dream start as Warrington allowed the kick-off to go dead to gift early field position, from which Jack Owens’ short kick bounced up for Max Roberts to open the scoring.
It was 10-0 before the Wolves had even touched the ball when another Owens kick, this time high to the right, was plucked out the air by Matt Fleming who spun to ground.
Warrington made their first bit of sustained pressure tell, Leon Hayes’ short kick forcing a repeat set, from which Max Wood was able to spin and go under the sticks on the last tackle in his first outing since joining the club from Wigan.
But Hayes fumbled the subsequent kick-off, again gifting Widnes field position and they scored direct from the scrum with a set move that was orchestrated by Owens and finished by former London Broncos and Hull KR winger Kieran Dixon in the corner to put the visitors 16-6 up.
A flick then seemed to switch in Sam Burgess’ young side, as they grabbed control of the game courtesy of Brad Dwyer.
Widnes struggled to handle the speed around the play the ball, and from one Dwyer dart, Luke Thomas was able to take on a late pass to go under the posts from close range.
By the 26th minute the scores were level when a misread left Widnes short on the left, enabling Cai Taylor-Wray to cut through.
Dywer was tormenting Widnes and he got a try for his efforts when his smart grubber kick came back off a post and in to his path to touch down for a third try under the posts and the Wolves led 22-16.
They extended that lead with two further tries before half time, Tom Whitehead playing at stand-off dummying through players he played alongside for Widnes against Whitehaven a fortnight ago, and then with the last play of the half, Whitehead got on the end of a Dwyer offload to make it 34-16 at half time.
Wood’s second try stretched the lead early in the second half but Widnes rallied, tries fro Kieran Dixon and Sam Wilde clawing them back within two scores before Mike Butt had a try in the corner ruled out.
A speedy break by Hayes was backed up by Taylor-Wray for his second, and the Wolves had enough to come away with the win despite late scores from Wilde and Matty Fozard dragging Widnes back within six points.
Warrington Wolves: Taylor-Wray, Thewlis, Bardsley-Rowe, Lindop, Russell, Whitehead, Hayes, Thomas, Dwyer, Dudson, Holroyd, Tupaea, Wood. Subs: Gardner, Green, Hartill, Sergent, Marshall, McKinney, Irwin, Raughter, High.
Tries: Wood 2, Thomas, Taylor-Wray 2, Dwyer, Whitehead 2. Goals: Hayes 7.
Widnes: Roby, Ince, Fleming, Roberts, Dixon, Lyons, Owens, Walker, Fozard, Wilson, Lloyd, Wilde, Gregson. Subs: Bent, Butt, Johnstone, Brooks, Tilleke, McCurrie.
Tries: Roberts, Fleming, Dixon 2, Wilde 2, Fozard. Goals: Dixon 6.
