Pictures: Eddie Whitham
WARRINGTON Wolves hung on for a dramatic 30-32 victory at Wakefield Trinity as the hosts staged a late fight back.
The nail biting victory saw Warrington move just two points behind second-placed Wigan in Super League.
There was little to suggest a nail biting finish as Stefan Ratchford crossed twice in the first 10 minutes, with Tom Lineham’s try giving Warrington a 20-0 advantage. Harvey Livett converted all three tries and added two penalties for good measure.
Trinity reduced their arrears to 22-6 at the break thanks to a try from Tinirau Aruna.
A brace of tries from Kyle Wood brought Wakefield back into it and although Kevin Brown replied, running in from 40 yards out after being put in the clear by Lineham. Goodwin crucially added the conversion to add to two penalties he had booted over earlier.
Warrington did not make life easy for themselves when Sita Akauola was sin-binned for a high tackle when they led 32-18 after 76 minutes, as Trinity staged a late onslaught with tries from Tom Johnstone and Pauli Pauli , which were both converted.
Wakefield had just 21 seconds left on the clock after Pauli went over, and were left empty-handed despite outscoring Warrington five tries to four.
Whereas goal kicking cost Warrington last week in defeat to Castelford, it got them over the line for a win at Wakefield.
.@kevjonbrown with what turned out to be the decisive try in today’s win away at Wakefield pic.twitter.com/DEAcG93xnT
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) June 17, 2018
💬 “They scored those late tries at the end but I always felt we were in control.”
Hear from Steve Price following today’s win away at Wakefield ➡ https://t.co/vAhfaSxovs pic.twitter.com/iUaUlcGIUu
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) June 17, 2018
Wakefield: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Tupou, Lyne, Johnstone, Miller, Hampshire, Fifita, Randell, England, Pauli, Ashurst, Horo.
Replacements: Wood, Kirmond, Arona, Hirst.
Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, Goodwin, Atkins, Charnley, K Brown, Roberts, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Livett, Hughes, Westwood.
Replacements: Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Akauola, Crosby.
Wakefield (6) 30
Tries: Arona, Wood 2, Johnstone, Pauli Goals: Hampshire 5
Warrington (22) 32
Tries: Ratchford 2, Lineham, Brown Goals: Livett 5, Goodwin 3
