WOLVES LEFT THEMSELVES TOO MUCH TO DO (From Warrington Guardian)

WOLVES LEFT THEMSELVES TOO MUCH TO DO

Wigan Warriors 24

Warrington Wolves 10

WARRINGTON Wolves are picking up the reputation of being a 'second half team'.

If the Wolves had offered the same conviction as their final 40 minutes in the first period then a first win at Central Park for six years could have been reality.

The Wolves were 18-0 down at the break but turned it round to 18-10 and had a dubious decision go against Danny Farrar when he could have possibly touched down while the scores were 20-10. Another try then, with Wigan on the rack, could have given arrington the impetus to go on and win.

It was a much improved second half performance which had defeated Gateshead six days earlier and at Salford on Good Friday but this time Warrington had left themselves too much to do and fell to their first Super League defeat of the year.

There was mixed fortune on the team selection front for Darryl Van de Velde going into the game. Full back Lee Penny shook off a dead leg to play but stand off Scott Wilson was sidelined for a second game and 18-year-old John Duffy kept the No.6 role against his hometown club - lining up against Great Britain skipper Andy Farrell.

Warrington were rocked with further injuries during the game, particularly giving the Wolves a problem in the front row while Wigan boss John Monie had the luxury of rotating four top class props in Neil Cowie, Terry O'Connor, Tony Mestrov and Brett Goldspink.

Danny Nutley going off with a sprung shoulder and Gary Chambers departing with a bang to his knee meant Warrington played for 23 minutes with emergency props Steve McCurrie and Dean Busby.

Yet strangely it was during this period that the Wolves got their act together and gave the champions all kinds of difficulties. Busby's strong, straight running was particularly impressive.

Another casualty was winger Mark Forster. He needed 14 stitches to a head cut and was replaced by Australian Dean Hanger in the 33rd minute. Fortunately, the pocket dynamo signed from Huddersfield had his best game yet for the Wolves and he gained some super yards for the team in their second half purple patch.

There were many Warrington players who put in strong performances and showed plenty of commitment, effort and pride in the jersey which is why they were given a rousing send-off by the Wolves supporters.

Warrington's failing, however, was there try line area defence and a lack of willing to play open football in the first period.

Wigan's first try came after six minutes. It took three defenders to haul down Great Britain back rower Simon Haughton three yards away from Warrington's try line and after quickly regaining his feet acting half back Mark Reber - a doubt up until kick-off - darted over. Farrell added the extras.

Their second try in the 26th minute was similar. Welshman Cowie scattered defenders on a burst and his quick play-the-ball allowed GB centre Gary Connolly to burrow over from close range. Farrell's conversion made it 12-0.

A Goldspink off-load out of a two-man tackle broke up Warrington's defensive line in the 36th minute and Farrell was able to dummy his way past two defenders and race away from Ian Knott for another converted try.

The Wolves seemed keen to play 'ball up the jersey' rugby in the opening period and they never looked like scoring once but there was more fire and direction after the interval.

Good runs by Busby and Toa Kohe-Love took Warrington deep into enemy territory and Lee Briers hoisted a 'bomb' for centre Hunte to climb highest for a clean catch and touch down, very similar to the try he scored in the win over Gateshead. Briers was wide with the conversion but it was 18-4 with 45 minutes gone.

Briers found touch with a '40-20' kick to put Warrington on the attack again.

On the last tackle Briers dummied to kick and Knott and Kohe-Love winged the ball for Roach to spurt in at the corner to make it five tries in three games for the former Castleford flyer. Briers goaled from the touchline and it was 18-10 with Warrington very much on top at this point.

A poor pass by Duffy led to Knott knocking on and then the Wolves were penalised for ball stealing enabling Farrell to boot over two points from 32 yards.

It did not deter Warrington though. Again Briers dummied a kick on the last tackle and combined with Hanger and Hunte down the left flank. Loose forward Mike Wainwright continued the charge to Wigan's own 10-yard line and he chanced a pass to Farrar who appeared to be tackled without the ball with the try line at his mercy. Referee Steve Presley was right on the spot and he ruled a turnover.

Wigan killed the game off 15 minutes from time. Scrum half Jason Robinson, quiet throughout, made a 50 yard break and off-loaded to Dennis Betts in support but the back rower was caught by Penny's superb cover tackle. The Warriors kept the ball alive though with Farrell and full back Wes Davies, Billy Boston's grandson, putting winger Danny Moore over in the corner. Farrell's touchline conversion completed Wigan's win.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.