FULL TIME, PICTURES ADDED: Warrington Wolves 58 Harlequins 0 (From Warrington Guardian)

FULL TIME, PICTURES ADDED: Warrington Wolves 58 Harlequins 0

4:53pm Sunday 7th February 2010

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WARRINGTON Wolves have got their home Super League campaign off to a winning start for only the second time in five seasons.

In the great scheme of things, victory over Harlequins RL was just what the doctor ordered after five straight losses at the start of 2009 effectively led to Wolves missing out on last year’s play-offs.

With today’s thrilling 58-0 success they have the foundations to build on, while Harlequins could be in trouble.

Brian McDermott’s men already have two losses to their name this year, making it just one win from their last 14 Super League games.

Highlight of today’s superb win was a tremendous try haul for Chris Riley, making him the first Wolves player to score five in a match during the Super League era.

Wolves kicked off against the visiting Harlequins with very much the same line-up as against Wigan in the final pre-season friendly.

Tony Smith chose Gareth Carvell instead of Paul Wood but apart from that it was a similar sight to the one that met the Wigan side at The Halliwell Jones Stadium last week.

Harlequins started without key players across the pitch, missing their captain Rob Purdham, the dangerous Luke Dorn and Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, who is serving a one match ban for a head-butt against Wakefield.

The pre-match entertainment was kicked off by Irish X-factor duo Jedward, performing their new single ‘Under Pressure’ and what a fitting start to a Super League season that is steeped in expectation for Wolves.

With Leeds and Saints both slipping up this weekend the stage seemed set for another unexpected result, but Wolves showed the so-called ‘big boys’ of Super League how it is done with a scintillating performance.

Richie Myler kicked off his Super League debut with a bang, as he set up Gareth Carvell with a calm inside pass and the big prop charged through two to slam the ball down in the third minute. Lee Briers continued his perfect kicking campaign with the extras.

Wolves broke through just minutes later as Richie Mathers showed his hard work in pre-season is paying off.

He picked up the ball from Michael Monaghan and showed strength and speed to slip between several Quins players and make it 12-0, with Briers again kicking the conversion.

Monaghan capped off a terrific first half performance with a solo try from four metres out.

He tapped a quick penalty and found a gap in the Quins line to squeeze through and drop over, Briers adding the conversion.

Chris Bridge then continued the tremendous first half showing for Wolves as he picked up the ball at dummy half on the last tackle and jinked through the Quins to touch down between the posts.

On the stroke of half-time Wolves completed a dominant display as a beautiful move across the length of the pitch sent Chris Riley over in the corner.

Briers threw a miracle pass down the line to Bridge who off-loaded to Riley and the quick winger found the space to charge over.

Briers ended his run of 16 successful conversions as he missed from the right touchline.

Wolves started the second half in exactly the same fashion as they finished the first, with Riley picking up his second try of the afternoon on 47 minutes.

Riley received in space after an offload from Westwood and the young winger touched down. Briers missed the conversion.

Wolves then began a scoring spree; with an unbelievable three tries in five minutes. Riley grabbed his hat-trick and then added a fourth just minutes later following flowing passing rugby from a Wolves side in their pomp.

Myler dropped over for a debut try and fans will barely believe this was the same side who were devoid of attacking ideas against Wigan recently.

Briers added two of the conversions and it was a damage limitation exercise for Quins as they found themselves 48 points down within 20 minutes of the game remaining.

McDermott must have been wondering what to say to his side as he watched a rampant Wolves side score again and again without reply.

Riley added his fifth try of the game after Briers picked up the ball from a scrum and kicked an inch perfect kick to the corner.

Simon Grix added another Wolves try on 67 minutes.

Louis Anderson showed off his quick handling with a nice offload and Grix twisted through two Quins players to drop down over the line and make it 58-0.

Briers added the extras.

Expectation has been sky-high in the Wolves camp during pre-season and off the back of this performance, who could blame them?

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