Morley sent off in Wolves defeat (From Warrington Guardian)

Morley sent off in Wolves defeat

12:13pm Saturday 8th September 2007

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St Helens 36 Warrington Wolves 16.

ANY hopes Warrington Wolves had of completing a comeback against the Super League leaders were wiped out by the dismissal of Adrian Morley in the 69th minute of Friday's clash at Knowsley Road.

Wolves were 12 points behind and looking threatening after Martin Gleeson had crashed on to a Lee Briers pass for a try against his former club.

A grubber kick from Briers would have then brought a second try of the game for Kevin Penny had it not been for the fine positioning and goalkeeping' skills of Saints full back Paul Wellens.

But when referee Ashley Klein brandished the red card to Morley for an alleged high tackle on Paul Clough the game was over as a contest.

Wellens was able to land the resultant penalty goal from in front of the posts and widen the gap to 14 points before Saints finished off the scoring with a converted Leon Pryce try two minutes later.

Wolves again went into the game with a patched up side and lost Mark Gleeson and Rob Parker to injuries during the game, so to finish the match with 12 men and not crumble in the circumstances was a credit to the character of the players.

New Zealand wingman Francis Meli, who admitted in the match programme that he was close to signing for Warrington before joining St Helens, was the home side's hero.

He gave Penny a torrid time with his strength and ability to catch the high ball, finishing the match with a hat-trick of tries.

Chris Bridge made a welcome return from injury at stand off and gave Warrington better balance but ultimately that was not enough to prevent Saints sealing the league leaders' trophy, with their nearest rivals Leeds Rhinos having lost at home to Hull FC.

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