A GENE Ormsby try late in the half gave Warrington Wolves the lead at the interval in Perpignan against Catalan Dragons.

Michael Monaghan’s try gave Wolves a brief lead but Michael Oldfield replied before Ormsby sent Wolves in ahead at the break.

Rhys Evans knocked on as he attempted to gather a high kick from Leon Pryce and Catalan were awarded the scrum, but a Ben Pomeroy fumble returned possession to Wolves two minutes in.

Three minutes later and Wolves were nearly the first to cross, but Evans was again unable to gather in the wet conditions.

The winger did well to reach Michael Monaghan’s deft grubber but was unable to ground under pressure from the Catalan defence.

Both sides were struggling to hold onto the ball in first 10 minutes with Thomas Bosc the next to watch a simple pass slip from his grasp.

Wolves took possession and worked their way towards Dragons’ line before a Pryce infringement handed Tony Smith’s side a penalty.

Anthony England took the first ball from Richie Myler but the former Championship player was grounded two metres short.

Michael Monaghan picked up and went himself to roll three defenders and mark his return from a seven-game absence with the first try of the game. Chris Bridge added the extras.

But on 14 minutes the hosts hit back following another dropped ball, this time from Myler. Catalan worked the ball right and Elliot Whitehead’s pass found Oldfield via the turf for the Australian’s 14th try of the season.

Bosc converted from wide out.

Morgan Escare took a great catch from a Gareth O’Brien bomb at one end and was next to cross at the other, but his forceful pass had rebounded forward off the arms of Zeb Taia.

On 26 minutes Wolves’ most fluent move of the match almost had O’Brien through with men in support, but an ankle tap caught the breaking half-back.

Warrington were beginning to find a more sustained period of pressure and a side-footed grubber kick from Myler had Catalan back-pedalling and resulted in a goal-line drop out.

With three minutes of the half remaining Joel Monaghan took a quick tap from a penalty and attempted to drive Wolves forward.

Myler was tackled short of the line but Michael Monaghan was in for a quick play-the-ball to send Ormsby in at the corner for his 13th try of the season. Bridge converted from a difficult angle.