WARRINGTON Wolves slipped away from the Super League summit with a disappointing 38-22 defeat against Catalans in Perpignan.
With the opportunity to go back top of the table after rivals St Helens and Leeds had leapfrogged them over the past two evenings, the Wolves squandered a 10-0 lead and were eventually handsomely beaten.
It was not the result Warrington will have wanted, particularly following the news that Steve McNamara will be leaving the club to join Hull at the end of the season, with his presence attributed to the previous positive start to the campaign.
Catalans parted company with head coach Joel Tomkins in the week and they fell behind during a period with 12 men, Aispuro-Bichet sent to the sinbin for stopping Matty Ashton getting a quick restart.
It was Warrington’s opposite wingman who went in for the game’s opening try on 15 minutes, Jake Thewlis back in the team after a loan stint at Castleford finishing superbly in the corner.
George Williams marked his 350th career game with a try on 26 minutes and the Wolves led 10-0.
But a sinbin of their own, for Ashton, invited Catalans back in to the game in the final six minutes of the first half, and by half time it was all square.
Tommy Makinson, who had previously been denied by Josh Thewlis’ try-saving tackle, got the Dragons on the board and then on the stroke of half time, Darrelatour crossed for a converted score.
Two minutes after returning to a full complement of players, Warrington regained the lead when Toby King put Kelepi Tanginoa away and he found Josh Thewlis on his inside to score.
But they were then hit by a double Dragons blow, former St Helens pair Makinson and Lewis Dodd scoring a try apiece inside four minutes and on 55, Warrington trailed 22-16.
Warrington had a try ruled out for obstruction on 69 minutes, but after then fell apart.
Dodd scored two more to complete his hat-trick, and then Lipowicz added icing on the cake for the home side before Max Wood’s late consolation.
Catalans: Staines, Makinson, Aispuro-Bichet, Faataape, Darrelatour, Sexton, Dodd, Fa’asuamaleaui, Leeming, Navarrete, Garcia, Lipowicz, Bousquet. Subs: Satae, Condon, Wilson, Lis.
Warrington: Josh Thewlis, Ashton, King, Hopoate, Jake Thewlis, Williams, Sneyd, Harrison, Walker, Byrne, Tanginoa, Stone, Currie. Subs: Powell, Sipley, Philbin, Wood.
