WARRINGTON Wolves held off Wakefield Trinity to make it two wins from two at the start of the Super League season.
Fresh from a week off due to scheduled opponents Hull KR being in World Club Challenge action, the Wolves took control of the match either side of half time after an attritional opening half hour that saw just two points scored.
They came from the boot of Marc Sneyd, kicking a penalty on 16 minutes. A couple of Sneyd kicks created half-chances, though the best chance fell to George Williams after a blistering Cai Taylor-Wray.
Warrington had to wait for the 33rd minute to finally score the game’s first try, Toafofoa Sipley powering over for his first try for the club.
Fellow new signing Albert Hopoate then extended the advantage three minutes before the break, backing up a break by Danny Walker to go under the sticks.
Sipley went from hero to villain when he was sinbinned on the stroke of half time, which presented Wakefield the chance to ensure the Wolves didn’t keep a first half clean sheet, Max Jowitt converting a penalty to make it 14-2 at the break.
Wakefield made the most of their man advantage, Jowitt crossing for their first try on 46 and then barely moments after Sipley had returned, Jayden Myers reduced arrears to 14-10, with both conversions missed.
But Warrington restored a two score lead when Josh Smith scored off a Sneyd kick, and Sneyd then added a penalty following a high shot on Williams to make it 22-10.
Wakefield weren’t done, and set up a grandstand finish when Oli Pratt scored off a Jack Sinfield kick to make it 22-16.
A try saving tackle by Taylor-Wray denied Wakefield in the corner, before Sneyd was able to ease any Wolves worries with a 77th minute drop goal.
That wasn’t the end of the scoring though, as a fine kick by Sneyd with the outside of his left foot was caught and passed inside by Smith for Toby King.
Warrington: Taylor-Wray, Josh Thewlis, King, Hopoate, Smith, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Walker, Byrne, Stone, Harrison, Currie. Subs: Sipley, Crowther, Philbin, Tanginoa.
Wakefield: Jowitt, Myers, Hall, Scott, Pratt, Trueman, Sinfield, McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Nikotemo, Vagana, Tevaga. Subs: Storton, Pitts, Fa’atili, Smith.
