Wolves see off Whitehaven to reach last 16 of Challenge Cup

WARRINGTON Wolves secured their place in the next round of the Challenge Cup with a 44-4 win at Whitehaven.

In their first competitive game of the season, the Wolves were too strong for their third tier opponents, running in eight tries, including two on debut for half-back Oli Leyland.

Leyland started at half-back alongside Stefan Ratchford as Sam Burgess left out some of his big-hitters, Cai Taylor-Wray also taking his chance at full-back by scoring two tries.

Young winger Jake Thewlis also bagged a brace, as did hooker Danny Walker.

It was a first trip to Whitehaven for the Wolves in more than 20 years, and a large following helped to boost the coffers at the Cumbrian club, who had promoted the game heavily in midweek as part of the new Challenge Cup format to get revenue in to lower league outfits.

It took eight minutes for Warrington to open the scoring, Walker scooting over from dummy half.

Three further tries followed in the first half, all but one converted by Stefan Ratchford to make it 22-0 at the break.

Thewlis and Taylor-Wray notched tries early in the second half before Whitehaven got a try to give the home fans something to cheer about, Jay Weatherill scoring on the hour mark.

Warrington are now through to the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.

Whitehaven: Burns, Todd, Taylor, Bickerdike, Weatherill, Tyrer, Newbegin, Thomson, Collins, Pearce, Holliday, McQuistan, Kellett. Subs: Holgate, Brennan, Turnbull, Lewthwaite.

Warrington: Taylor-Wray, Thewlis, Lindop, Tai, Thewlis, Ratchford, Leyland, Musgrove, Walker, Yates, Holroyd, Russell, Whitehead. Subs: Harrison, Wood, Thomas, Hartill.