IF Tony Smith were a politician, there could well have been hushed mentions of the ‘green shoots of recovery’ following Wolves’ hard-fought victory at Wakefield.

While that would have likely provoked the same scorn suffered by the Government when they used the term to describe minimal growth in the nation’s withered economy, the fact remains that this Wolves performance had signs that some aspects of the team’s play are creeping towards the light.

With ball in hand Warrington looked leagues ahead of their misfiring appearance at Headingley a week earlier with the handling, passing and support play demonstrating that they still have the class to make light work of defences when they turn it on.

The kicking game was marginally more effective but far from excellent, and Lee Briers’ return in this regard will help.

Where the ‘green shoots’ argument falls down, however, is in defence.

Twice Wolves looked to have the game won, and both times Wakefield took advantage of porous line defence to make the finale more nailbiting for the visiting supporters than it should have been.

Wildcats fought back from 24-6 down to 24-22 and then from 40-22 to 40-34, prompting Brett Hodgson to kick only the second drop goal of his Wolves career to ensure they would not return home empty-handed.

But it should never have got to that point and, though Smith was keen to point out Wildcats will cause plenty of problems for other teams with their attacking prowess, it is clear that Wolves are far from their best when defending inside their own 20-metre line.

That said, Warrington are still only two points from their total at the same stage last season and are on course to concede a similar number of points to the 539 that earned them second spot by just a single point in 2012.

It was also good to see 18-year-old second row Ben Currie maintain his nine-match run of first team appearances with his first start of the campaign; the young forward seems to be revelling in the increased responsibility placed on his shoulders so far.

 

 

INTERESTING NOTES

Joel Monaghan scored his sixth brace of the season in the 41-36 defeat of Wakefield on Sunday.

Ben Westwood needs one try to clock up his 100th in primrose and blue.

Brett Hodgson is 5 points away from 1,000 in Super League.

Danny Bridge is set to make his first competitive first team appearance against Keighley, though ironically it will come while he is on loan from partner club Swinton.

Wolves’ third straight meeting with Keighley Cougars in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.

 

 

Super League Round 12 Sunday, April 14, 2013

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats...34 Warrington Wolves...41

Wakefield: Lee Smith; Peter Fox, Dean Collis, Reece Lyne, Ben Cockayne; Paul Sykes, Tim Smith; Andy Raleigh, Paul Aiton, Oliver Wilkes, Vince Mellars, Danny Kirmond, Danny Washbrook. Subs: Ali Lauititi, Kyle Wood, Kyle Amor, Chris Annakin.

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Simon Grix, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler, Mike Cooper, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Westwood, Ben Currie. Subs: Michael Monaghan, Ben Harrison, Paul Wood, Garreth Carvell.

Scoring: Atkins try, 2mins, Hodgson goal, 0-6; Ratchford try, 11mins, Hodgson goal, 0-12; Sykes try, 14mins, Sykes goal, 6-12; Atkins try, 19mins, Hodgson goal, 6-18; Monaghan try, 22mins, Hodgson goal, 6-24; Fox try, 32mins, 10-24; Fox try, 37mins, Sykes goal, 16-24; Lyne try, 52mins, Sykes goal, 22-24; Monaghan try, 59mins, 22-28; Ratchford try, 66mins, Hodgson goal, 22-34; Myler try, 68mins, Hodgson goal, 22-40; Wood try, 71mins, Sykes goal, 28-40; Sykes try, 74mins, Sykes goal, 34-40; Hodgson drop goal, 77mins, 34-41.

Pens: Wakefield 8 Wolves 5

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 7,985

Top Man: Stefan Ratchford