Warrington Beat Wakefield To Extend Winning Start

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Warrington Wolves (14) 27


Tries: Sipley, Hopoate, Smith, King Goals: Sneyd 5 Drop goal: Sneyd


Wakefield Trinity (2) 16


Tries: Jowitt, Myers, Pratt Goals: Jowitt 2


Warrington endured a strong Wakefield fightback in the 2nd half to make it two wins from two in Super League.


The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend due to the fact that of Hull Kingston Rovers' involvement in the World Club Challenge, appeared to have actually taken a firm grip on the game in the first half.


Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, in addition to the dependable kicking of Marc Sneyd, had them 14-2 up at the break.


Trinity, who chalked up their first win of the season at Huddersfield recently, came back well as Jake Trueman remarkably created pursues Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.


Wire replied as Australian newbie Josh Smith crossed for his very first shot however Oliver Pratt's score for Trinity set up a nervy ending, with the result settled by Sneyd's drop goal and Toby King's late try.


Wire offered additional evidence that they might make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd offered a kicking masterclass and they had the defensive durability to hold firm as Trinity came good.


Wakefield had won the previous three conferences of these 2, but they were quickly in difficulty as over a penalty and after that video referee Chris Kendall reversed an on-field verdict of "no shot" to give Sipley 4 points.


A few minutes later, Hopoate supported Danny Walker's break to streak away for another shot for 14-0.


Wire seemed to have actually made an expensive error as they responded to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by dedicating repeat offences which saw Sipley sin-binned and Jowitt kick the resulting penalty to provide his side a toe-hold.


That became a firmer platform early in the second half as Trinity used the additional guy, Trueman slinging a fine pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.


Sipley's very first act upon going back to the field was a ruck infringement which led to Trueman creating an even better looping cut-out pass and Myers completed to cut the cause just 4 points.


That spurred Wire into action after a drop in tempo and Sneyd's boot took control as he chipped the ball out to Smith, playing top-notch rugby for the very first time, to score his first try, which Sneyd converted and after that added a penalty to give his side breathing time.


Pratt then got on completion of a fine kick by Jack Sinfield to score in the corner and when Jowitt brilliantly nailed the difficult conversion, the game was back in the balance.


Wakefield appeared specific to score as Myers streaked for the corner however 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his attacking expertise versus St Helens, produced a splendid tackle to bundle him into touch and retain the lead.


Sneyd dropped a goal and then chipped another delicate kick to the corner for Smith to get and pass in mid-air for King to get rid of any doubt.


Six-try St Helens whip Catalans in Perpignan


'A truly high-quality game'


"It was a truly premium game. Both sides were at 90-something percent completion.


"They were physical and we needed to ride out the first half but the game lost its way a bit in the 2nd half - [it was] not down to the players, it simply got a bit stop-start.


"In the very first half we could have assaulted a little better. There are locations we can take a look at where we can challenge a little bit more and ask a few more concerns.


"The method the video game is going, it will take teams eight to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the same with us. Our patience was proficient at times and we were 100% in the very first half until the regrettable sin-binning."


Warrington Wolves: Taylor-Wray; Thewlis, King, Hopoate, Smith; Williams, Sneyd; Yates, Walker, Byrne, Stone, Harrison, Currie.


Replacements: Sipley, Crowther, Philbin, Tanginoa.


Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt; Pratt, Scott, Hall, Myers; Sinfield, Trueman; McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Nikotemo, Vagana, Tevaga.


Replacements: Storton, Pitts, Faatili, Smith.


Referee: Liam Rush