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 made it through a strong Wakefield fightback in the second half to make it two wins from 2 in Super League.


The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend because of Hull Kingston Rovers' participation worldwide Club Challenge, appeared to have taken a firm grip on the game in the first half.


Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, along with the reputable kicking of Marc Sneyd, had them 14-2 up at the break.


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


Wire responded as Australian newcomer Josh Smith crossed for his first shot but Oliver Pratt's score for Trinity established a nervy ending, with the outcome settled by Sneyd's drop objective and Toby King's late try.


Wire provided further proof that they might make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd gave a kicking masterclass and they had the defensive strength to hold company as Trinity came great.


Wakefield had won the previous three conferences of these 2, however they were quickly in trouble as Sneyd slotted over a charge and after that video referee Chris Kendall reversed an on-field decision of "no try" to give Sipley four points.


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


Wire appeared to have actually made a costly error as they reacted to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by devoting repeat offences which saw Sipley sin-binned and Jowitt kick the resulting charge to provide his side a toe-hold.


That ended up being a firmer platform early in the 2nd half as Trinity made use of the extra guy, a fine pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.


Sipley's first act upon returning to the field was a ruck infringement which resulted in Trueman developing an even much better looping cut-out pass and Myers completed to cut the cause simply 4 points.


That stimulated 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 included a penalty to provide his side breathing room.


Pratt then got on completion of a great 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 spotted for the corner but 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his attacking prowess against St Helens, produced a magnificent tackle to bundle him into touch and retain the lead.


Sneyd dropped an objective and then broke 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 premium video game'


"It was a really high-quality game. Both sides were at 90-something percent completion.


"They were physical and we needed to ride out the first half but the video game lost its method a bit in the second half - [it was] not down to the gamers, it just got a bit stop-start.


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


"The method the 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 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