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


The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend because of Hull Kingston Rovers' involvement on the planet Club Challenge, appeared to have taken a company grip on the video game in the very first half.


Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, in addition to the trustworthy 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, returned well as Jake Trueman brilliantly created pursues Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.


Wire replied as Australian newcomer Josh Smith crossed for his very first shot but Oliver Pratt's rating for Trinity set up a nervy ending, with the outcome settled by Sneyd's drop goal and Toby King's late shot.


Wire provided additional evidence that they could make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd gave a kicking masterclass and they had the defensive strength to hold firm as Trinity came excellent.


Wakefield had won the previous 3 meetings of these 2, but they were quickly in difficulty as Sneyd slotted over a penalty and after that video referee Chris Kendall overturned an on-field verdict of "no shot" to offer Sipley 4 points.


A couple of 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 reacted to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by dedicating repeat offenses 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 2nd half as Trinity made use of the extra guy, Trueman slinging a great pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.


Sipley's first act upon returning to the field was a ruck violation which led to Trueman developing an even much better looping cut-out pass and Myers finished to cut the lead to just 4 points.


That stimulated Wire into action after a drop in pace and Sneyd's boot took control as he cracked the ball out to Smith, playing top-notch rugby for the very first time, to score his first try, which Sneyd transformed and then added a charge to give his side breathing room.


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


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


an objective and then cracked another delicate kick to the corner for Smith to get and pass in mid-air for King to eliminate any doubt.


Six-try St Helens thrash Catalans in Perpignan


'A really premium game'


"It was an actually top quality game. Both sides were at 90-something percent conclusion.


"They were physical and we had to ride out the very first half however the video 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 might have attacked a little better. There are locations we can take a look at where we can challenge a bit more and ask a few more concerns.


"The way the game is going, it will take groups eight to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the same with us. Our patience was good at times and we were 100% in the first half till 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