WARRINGTON Wolves collapsed to a 40-10 defeat against former coach Daryl Powell’s Wakefield.
A week on from reaching the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, Warrington were brought back down to earth as they struggled to handle Mason Lino’s kicking game.
Wakefield opened up a 12-0 lead inside the first eight minutes, with two tries from forward Caius Faatili, the first a crash over from close range and the second after Tom Johnstone had got under a high Lino kick.
Warrington struggled to gain field position and when they did, squandered it, and Wakefield soon added to their lead when Josh Griffin took on Lino’s short pass to cross the line.
But the Wolves give themselves hope in the final seven minutes of the second half with two quickfire tries. Their left edge attack finally linked up successfully for Marc Sneyd to put Arron Lindop in with a long pass.
And then from the kick-off, Lindop tip-toed down the left touchline outside opposite number Lachlan Walmsley to find Sneyd and then the returning Connor Wrench to complete a 70 metre score, though Sneyd hit the post with the conversion attempt it reduced the deficit to 18-10 at half time.
Lindop dropped the kick-off at the start of the second half and Wakefield didn’t need a second invite.
They made the most of that territory through Corey Hall’s try, and when Tom Johnstone went in at the left corner they had restored their 18 point advantage with 20 minutes to go, and Warrington had no answer.
Griffin scored his second try and then Oli Pratt finished the scoring late on as Wakefield made it seven wins out of eight against Warrington.
Wakefield: Rourke, Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Jowitt, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Faatili, Croft, Griffin, Pitts. Subs: Scott, Vagana, Cozza, Smith.
Warrington: Dufty, Jk Thewlis, Wrench, Tai, Lindop, Ratchford, Sneyd, Yates, Powell, Vaughan, Holroyd, Russell, Currie. Subs: Harrison, Philbin, Crowther, Gardner.
