Under-strength Wolves soundly beaten in Wembley dress rehearsal

WARRINGTON Wolves fell to a 12-31 defeat in a Challenge Cup final dress rehearsal against Hull KR.

Unfancied against the Super League leaders, Warrington were once again well under-strength, with Oli Leyland coming in at half-back in place of Marc Sneyd, and Paul Vaughan joining the likes of George Williams, Toby King, Danny Walker and Matty Ashton on the sidelines.

They made a game of it to begin with, Dan Russell cancelling out Jack Broadbent’s early try, and briefly threatened a fightback in the second half but the Robins were simply too good.

Hull KR led 14-6 at half-time thanks to tries from Tom Davies and Mikey Lewis, and when Joe Burgess added their fourth try soon after the break, it was only the wayward goalkicking of Arthur Mourgue that was keeping the scoreline within reach.

Tyrone May’s try, set up by former Warrington centre Peta Hiku, opened up an 18 point lead before Josh Thewlis grabbed one back for the hosts.

Davies added a second try in the corner before Lewis put icing on the cake for the visitors with a late drop goal to make it 31-12 at full-time.

Post-match Wolves’ Head Coach Sam Burgess remained tight-lipped when asked about reports linking him to the Perth job down under.

Warrington: Dufty; Thewlis, Tai, Wrench, Lindop; Ratchford, Leyland; Yates, Crowther, Philbin, Holroyd, Russell, Currie. Interchanges: Harrison, Wood, Whitehead, Hartill.

Hull KR: Mourgue; Davies, Hiku, Broadbent, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Batchelor, Minchella. Interchanges: Luckley, Richardson, Tanginoa, Brown.