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 2nd half to make it two wins from two in Super League.


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


Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, together with the trusted 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, returned well as Jake Trueman remarkably produced pursues Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.


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


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


Wakefield had won the previous three meetings of these 2, but they were quickly in problem as Sneyd slotted over a charge and after that video referee Chris Kendall reversed an on-field verdict of "no try" to offer Sipley four 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 a costly mistake as they reacted to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by committing repeat offenses which saw Sipley sin-binned and Jowitt kick the resulting charge to offer his side a toe-hold.


That ended up being a firmer platform early in the 2nd half as Trinity made usage of the extra guy, Trueman slinging a great 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 resulted in Trueman creating an even better looping cut-out pass and Myers completed to cut the cause simply 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 first-rate rugby for the very first time, to score his very first try, which Sneyd transformed and after that added a penalty to offer his side breathing area.


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


Wakefield seemed particular to score as Myers streaked for the corner however 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his attacking prowess against St Helens, produced a spectacular deal with to bundle him into touch and maintain the lead.


Sneyd dropped a goal and after that cracked another fragile 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 really top quality game'


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


"They were physical and we had to ride out the 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 .


"In the very first half we could have assaulted a little much better. There are areas we can take a look at where we can challenge a bit more and ask a couple of more questions.


"The method the game is going, it will take teams 8 to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the very same with us. Our perseverance was proficient at times and we were 100% in the first half until the unfortunate 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