IF it wasn’t for the fact that Wolves have lost only one of their last 11 games, you could make a case for them being in a bit of a rut.

Certainly they have not shown their best in the last few weeks, a dip in form that started with the watershed Challenge Cup semi final defeat to Hull FC three weeks ago.

It has not stopped Wolves’ Super League juggernaut from thundering towards a remarkable 10 consecutive league wins, but that might say more about the recent opposition faced than the current form of Tony Smith’s men.

Victory against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats was no different, with Smith seemingly keen to emphasise the ‘scrappy’ nature of both the game and his side’s play throughout.

Injuries may be at the heart of it, with Lee Briers, Adrian Morley, Garreth Carvell, Richie Myler and Mike Cooper all missing and with a new combination of Michael Monaghan and Stefan Ratchford finding their feet in the halves.

But really it just seems that Wolves have lost the spark of intensity they were showing with regularity just a few weeks ago, now content with doing enough to ensure Huddersfield Giants are still within touching distance should they slip up in the remaining three games.

That said, the front row of Chris Hill, Paul Wood and Micky Higham were mostly excellent, scattering the Wakefield defence with bulldozing runs and keeping Wolves on the front foot during a dominant start.

That dominance may have worn off as the game went on, but Wolves’ defence was still good enough to keep Wakefield at bay for the most part.

Joel Monaghan’s seemingly customary brace of tries came off the back of his brother Michael and centre partner Chris Bridge linking up well, while Ben Westwood also caused Trinity Wildcats problems down the right.

But what stood out on a less than impressive day at The Halliwell Jones Stadium was Wolves’ goal kicking, with Ratchford missing four of five attempts while Bridge missed another.

It just goes to prove that Brett Hodgson’s return to full fitness will be vital in the coming weeks, as Wolves can ill afford to throw away 10 points against the much tougher sides on the play-off horizon.

 

 

INTERESTING NOTES

The 26-14 victory secured Warrington Wolves their 10th consecutive Super League win, a club record.

Warrington have now won their last eight meetings with Wakefield, with the Wildcats' last win against the Wolves coming 40-28 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on August 21, 2009.

Chris  Bridge needs two more tries to reach a career century of touchdowns.

James Laithwaite and Tyrone McCarthy both earned their first starts of the year in the victory over Wakefield.

 

 

Super League Round 24

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Warrington Wolves...26

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats...14

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Smon Grix, Chris Riley; Stefan Ratchford, Michael Monaghan; Paul Wood, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Ben Westwood, James Laithwaite, Tyrone McCarthy. Subs: Trent Waterhouse, Ben Harrison, Ben Currie, Brad Dwyer.

Wildcats: Richard Mathers; Liam Kay, Reece Lyne, Frankie Mariano, Ben Cockayne; Lee Smith, Tim Smith; Andy Raleigh, Paul Aiton, Kyle Amor, Ali Lauititi, Danny Kirmond, Kyle Trout. Subs: Danny Washbrook, Oliver Wilkes, Bobbie Goulding, Taulima Tautai.

Scoring: Joel Monaghan try, 9mins, 4-0; Mariano try, 16mins, 4-4; Hodgson try, 20mins, 8-4; Kirmond try, 28mins, 8-8; Higham try, 36mins, Ratchford goal, 14-8; Joel Monaghan try, 53mins, 18-8; Bridge try, 55mins, 22-8; Kay try, 61mins, Smith goal, 22-14; Riley try, 67mins, 26-14.

Penalties: Wolves 7 Wakefield 5
Referee: Tim Roby
Attendance: 9,250
Top Man: Micky Higham