MAN of the match Matt Dufty scored the winning try as Warrington Wolves won a see-saw encounter 22-20 away at Hull KR.
Dufty sliced through the Robins defence from a scrum play 10 minutes from time to nudge the Wolves in front in an entertaining contest and earn Sam Burgess his first away win as Wolves coach.
After a cagey opening, Warrington hit the front with the first two tries. A sharp Dufty pass was taken to the line by a good angled run by George Williams and then Leon Hayes’ kick was snatched away from former Wolves man Peta Hiku by Matty Ashton for 10-0.
Hull KR hadn’t had a play the ball inside Warrington’s 30 metres before they got on the board on 19 minutes. Mikey Lewis’ high kick had Dufty planted and Tyrone May made the most of his forward momentum and height to snatch it out of the air and go over.
Six minutes later the Robins were in front, a wonderful offload by Oliver Gildart putting Ryan Hall in at the left corner as Lewis terrorised the Wolves defence.
A golden opportunity was bombed by the hosts on 33 minutes when James Batchelor knocked on over the line on the impact of a crucial Lachlan Fitzgibbon tackle as it seemed like the Wolves were clinging on.
But somehow by half time, they found the lead again, with not just one but two tries.
First, they shifted the ball left and Fitzgibbon offloaded for Toby King to score and they went back-to-back when Dufty broke from a Williams inside pass, kicked through for Connor Wrench who hacked on twice to touch down.
Goalkicking was poor from both sides all night, and Warrington failed to convert either of those scores but still led 18-12 at half time.
The hosts had to take the game to Warrington Wolves and they should have levelled 10 minutes in to the second half when a wonderful show and go from Lewis had him through, only for Jez Litten to overrun him in support and the ball went to ground.
They did eventually get over for their third try, Hall repaying the favour to Gildart with an offload for 18-16.
Shortly after the hour mark, Hull KR forced a repeat set and made the Wolves pay, May finding Tom Opacic with a lovely long pass and they had the lead at 20-18.
But after a knock on gave Warrington field position, they made the most of the opportunity with Dufty slicing through for the decisive score.
Hull KR: Hiku, Evalds, Opacic, Gildart, Hall, May, Lewis, Hadley, Litten, Whitbread, Tanginoa, Batchelor, Minchella. Subs: Sue, King, Parcell, Luckley.
Warrington Wolves: Dufty, Thewlis, King, Wrench, Ashton, Williams, Hayes, Harrison, Walker, Vaughan, Holroyd, Fitzgibbon, Currie. Subs: Philbin, Crowther, Musgrove, Powell.
A huge two points on the road! 😄 pic.twitter.com/3ji03NRRMf
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) March 7, 2024
“You’ve got to keep a close eye on Matt Dufty here!” 😅
Watch the moment when @matt_dufty1 comes up with the match-winner 😵 #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/x95m6cXQCV
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 7, 2024
Guess who’s back? 😎@George7Williams with the opening try of the match 🐺🔥#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/R1cuKe0TZd
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 7, 2024
