Wolves crush
the Wildcats

In-form Warrington reinforced their engage Super League play-off potential with an emphatic victory at Wakefield by 40-28.

A determined and tenacious display saw the Wolves overhaul an early 16-4 deficit to record a stylish victory during which they ran in eight tries.

Wakefield coach Shane McNally was left to reflect on his side?s defensive frailties which saw the Wildcats meekly surrender their early advantage before a second-half collapse sent them crashing to their sixth defeat of the season.

Warrington, meanwhile, have now won four of their last five matches and look well primed to fulfil their considerable promise with a sustained bid for a top-six finish.

High expectations at the Halliwell Jones Stadium were doused by a number of morale-sapping early-season defeats - but this resounding victory suggests Warrington are beginning to come good.

The hosts were without key trio Sid Domic, David Solomona and Jamie Rooney while Warrington were missing Mark Gleeson, Logan Swann and long-term absentees Daryl Cardiss and Simon Grix.

The two sides began the game level on points with four victories apiece and it was Wakefield who set the early pace with a try after just two minutes when centre Kevin King grounded in the left-hand corner.

Jules O?Neill failed to covert from a difficult angle but Warrington found themselves penned back during the early exchanges before a devastating burst from midfield by Martin Gleeson allowed the visitors to draw level.

The Great Britain Test centre was stopped in his tracks but the influential Lee Briers offloaded to Ben Westwood, who crossed the whitewash from close range.

Briers failed to convert and the Wildcats wasted little time in reasserting their authority on proceedings as a stirring three-minute spell handed them a healthy advantage which they ultimately proved incapable of protecting.

After 21 minutes Wakefield scrum-half Ben Jeffries collected Semi Tadulala?s offload and raced through to score before O?Neill converted to hand the hosts a 10-4 advantage.

Three minutes later the Wildcats extended their lead when Sam Obst found Steve Snitch racing forward and his perfect offload allowed Jeffries to charge over the Warrington line unopposed.

O?Neill again converted but the visitors remained undeterred and they soon dragged themselves back into the game after catching Wakefield on the counter-attack.

Briers halted a Wakefield attack with a fine interception which allowed right wing Henry Fa?afili to charge up field, where the visitors worked the ball out to opposite wing Graham Appo.

He failed to reach the line but second row Mike Wainwright followed up to cross the whitewash before Briers saw his attempted conversion rebound off a post.

However, as Briers began to work increasingly effectively in tandem with half-back partner Nathan Wood, the Wolves grabbed the lead when Wood, with a combination of searing pace and clever footwork, darted through the inept home defence to cross the line.

Briers again missed the conversion but then made made amends three minutes later to cross the line after collecting Jon Clarke?s offload following another dazzling run by Gleeson.

Briers converted for the first time and the influential stand-off scored and converted his second try four minutes after the interval to give the visitors further breathing space.

Westwood then grabbed his second and although Briers failed to convert, Fa?afili soon grabbed Warrington?s eight try of the match to render late efforts by Mark Applegarth and Olivier Elima little more than consolation.

Wakefield: M. Field, Houles, Demetriou, King, Tadulala, O?Neill, Jeffries, Griffin, Obst, Korkidas, Elima, Applegarth, J. Field. Replacements: Snitch, Wrench, Kirk, March.

Warrington: Grose, Appo, Kohe-Love, M. Gleeson, Faa?fili, Briers, N. Wood, Leikvoll, Clarke, Hilton, Wainwright, Westwood, Noone. Replacements: Lima, P. Wood, Pickersgill, Bridge.

Wakefield (16) 28. Tries: King, Jeffries 2, Applegarth, Elima. Goals: O?Neill 4.

Warrington (18) 40. Tries: Westwood 2, Wainwright, N. Wood, Briers 2, Clarke, Faa?fili. Goals: Briers 3, Bridge.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley)

Att: 5,129

Thanks to: http://www.superleague.co.uk for another excellent article.