THIS game was certainly something of an Easter treat for the 11,000-strong crowd inside The Halliwell Jones Stadium, which was bathed in sunshine for the first time this year.

However, the overwhelming majority will have gone away disappointed and somewhat frustrated with what they saw.

In truth, there may well be some mixed feelings in the Warrington Wolves camp about this game – the result could have been so much worse, but they could maybe also reflect on the passing of a real opportunity to complete a stirring fightback.

Purely in black and white, however, it is a defeat and one for which the blame lies squarely at their own door.

They did not so much as give Catalans a leg-up in the early stages of this game, they pretty much threw them over the wall themselves.

Giving any side an 18-point head start is asking for trouble but against one as well-drilled as the Dragons, it was a real shot in the foot. It was akin to agreeing to fight Mike Tyson in his prime and then tying your own hands behind your back for the first three rounds.

To make matters worse, they did not learn from their mistakes after the break and allowed Catalans to pull away again having dragged themselves back into the game. Having climbed a few ladders before half time, they hit a very lengthy snake and had to start pretty much from scratch again.

They will no doubt look back at all six tries and put them in the avoidable category – Jordan Abdull terrorised their right edge and the failure to decisively deal with his clever kicks meant the Dragons could always feel in command.

Top sides will expose any vulnerabilities and despite all the good work they have done in recent weeks, this was a public demonstration as to why any optimism had come with a strong hint of caution.

The visitors ended up having to really work for it though and for that, credit has to go to a Warrington side who stormed back.

Indeed, when George Williams touched down just shy of the hour mark, it really was game on with Wire just four points behind with more than a quarter of the game remaining.

The ground was alive and the hosts took the cue to hammer at the door, but a determined Dragons rearguard kept slamming it in their face.

And so, Wire are still where most people thought they would be – a side good enough to be in the play-off spots, but not quite at the level of the established top dogs…yet.

While disappointing, it is far from all being doom and gloom and the fightback demonstrated that there is large quantities of fighting spirit within the dressing room which will make sure they are at least competitive in these kind of games.

The next step, though, is finding a way to emerge on the other side victorious. That part still needs work.

Their chances should not be written off after this defeat – after all, Wire know only too well that nothing is won at Easter.