PATIENCE persevered for Wolves at Hull KR on Friday, with huge defence complemented by two rounds of quick-fire try scoring.

Littered with errors, a scrappy first-half looked like petering out into a stalemate in front of a hostile crowd at the KC Lightstream Stadium.

They took a particular distaste for referee Ben Thaler, with the hosts’ penalty count rocketing as they attempted to stop Wolves quick play-the-balls.

The visitors were not without blame, they too contributed to an error-strewn 40 minutes.

But their commitment could not be questioned, only a shield of Wolves bodies stopped danger man Mick Weyman, who scored twice the last time the sides met, from breaking the deadlock in Super League Round 16.

Led in defence by the monumental Ben Evans – completing one of two sets of twins facing each other, a first in Super League history – the prop was also in determined fashion going forward and only similar heroics on Rovers’ line stopped him crossing.

Ryan Atkins had already seen a try wiped off by the time Gene Ormsby flew, literally, into the corner to kick-start a flurry of Wolves scores.

Stefan Ratchford was next from a superb Simon Grix break and Joel Monaghan rubbed salt into Rovers’ first-half wounds, with Bridge adding all the extras.

It was a performance built on Tony Smith’s philosophy that youth and committed defence will prosper, highlighted when two minutes into his first team debut Joe Philbin made a covering tackle for Roy Asotasi.

Philbin was one of eight home-grown players in Wolves’ 17-man squad, while Anthony England and George King were also named in Smith’s earlier 19.

Graeme Horne offered Rovers some relief after the break, but it was the home crowd left sarcastically applauding Thaler again.

Their frustration came after Ben Evans had robbed Greg Eden after the full back fumbled to go between the posts, although many did not stick around to witness Atkins and Monaghan complete Wolves’ scoring.

INTERESTING NOTES

The win against Hull KR was Wolves’ sixth on the bounce

It also takes Tony Smith’s side to 10 Super League victories so far this season

Joe Philbin made his Warrington Wolves debut, coming on as a substitute

Philbin was one of eight home-grown players in the Warrington squad, the others were Rhys and Ben Evans, Ben Currie, Ben Harrison, Brad Dwyer, Gene Ormsby and Glenn Riley

Rhys and Bens Evans completed one set of two twins facing each other in a Super League game for the first time. Adam and Jonny Walker were in the Hull KR squad

Super League Round 16, Friday, June 13

Hull KR...4 Warrington Wolves...34

Hull KR: Greg Eden; Ade Gardner, Liam Salter, Craig Hall, Wayne Ulugia; Travis Burns, Kris Keating; Adam Walker, Josh Hodgson, Mick Weyman, Graeme Horne, Jamie Langley, Neville Costigan. Subs: Aarron Ollett, Jason Netherton, Jonny Walker, James Green.

Wolves: Matty Russell; Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Joel Monaghan, Gene Ormsby; Chris Bridge, Stefan Ratchford; Chris Hill, Micky Higham, Ben Evans, Simon Grix, Ben Currie, Ben Harrison. Subs: Roy Asotasi, Glenn Riley, Brad Dwyer, Joe Philbin.
Scoring: Ormsby try, 32mins, Bridge goal, 0-6; Ratchford try, 34mins, Bridge goal, 0-12; Monaghan try, 38mins, Bridge goal, 0-18; Horne try, 57mins, 4-18; Ben Evans try, 69mins, Bridge goal, 4-24; Atkins try, 73mins, 4-28; Monaghan try, 78mins, Bridge goal, 4-32.

Referee: Ben Thaler

Penalties: Hull KR 6 Wolves 7

Attendance: 6,850

Top Man: Ben Evans