WHAT a let down!
Just like in last year’s Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Hull, Wolves did not deliver anywhere near their best performance.
At Langtree Park on Saturday it was the decision making at key times in attack that surely cost them a place at Wembley.
Some composure, somebody taking a grip of the team’s orchestration, could have made a huge difference when things were going against them early on.
When the penalties were building up, when the rub of the green was going all the way of a Leeds side that had set up camp in the Wolves half, tremendous defence was holding firm in the hot sun but the necessary assistance that may have evolved from releasing the pressure valve never materialised.
It was incomprehensible, on the few excursions over the halfway line, Wolves would twice run the ball and mess up on final tackles of sets rather than kicking deep, chasing hard and giving Rhinos a taste of their own medicine.
Earning a fairer share of the possession and territory at that stage could have made all the difference.
Instead, the number of handling errors, the amount of wrong options and understandable weariness from mounting defence work inevitably led to Leeds crossing for two tries, albeit the second from a forward pass, courtesy of clinical England winger Ryan Hall.
In the circumstances of the 40 minutes, to only trail 14-0 was a result for Tony Smith’s men.
Despite Wolves getting their act together, and at 18-4 Chris Bridge restored to the controlling half-back spot in which he has revelled this year, Leeds’ strike power from counter attacks was enough to keep them in front.
It was remarkable to see Wolves, with Trent Waterhouse, Michael Monaghan, Richie Myler and Paul Wood short on game time after long inuries, actually finish the game strongest after that sapping opening half and it was testament to fitness levels.
Chris Hill and Ben Harrison were colassal contributors overall, but such efforts proved to be in vain because the brains department was all at sea.
INTERESTING NOTES
Warrington's fifth Challenge Cup semi-final appearance in six years
Defeat on Saturday was Warrington’s first against Leeds in a Challenge Cup semi final since an 11-10 loss in 1910
Micky Higham made his 50th Challenge Cup appearance, with 23 coming in a Wolves shirt
Ryan Atkins made his 250th career appearance on Saturday. Atkins is also only five games from reaching 150 for Warrington
Joel Monaghan needs three more tries to reach his century in Super League for Warrington Wolves. He has scored 20 times in Super League this season
MATCH FACTS
Challenge Cup semi final, Saturday, August 9, 2014
Leeds Rhinos 24 Warrington Wolves 16
Wolves: Matty Russell; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans; Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Michael Monaghan, Anthony England, Ben Westwood, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Harrison. Subs: Micky Higham, Roy Asotasi, Paul Wood, Simon Grix.
Leeds: Zak Hardaker; Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall; Danny McGuire, Kevin Sinfield; Kylie Leuluai, Rob Burrow, Jamie Peacock, Carl Ablett, Brett Delaney, Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Subs: Pail Aiton, Ryan Bailey, Ian Kirke, Liam Sutcliffe.
Scoring: Sinfield penalty, 2mins, 2-0; Hall try, 25mins, Sinfield goal, 8-0; Hall try, 36mins, Sinfield goal, 14-0; Bridge try, 43mins, 14-4; Moon try, 53mins, 18-4; Ratchford try, 59mins, Bridge goal, 18-10; Briscoe try, 67mins, Sinfield goal, 24-10; Westwood try, 75mins, Bridge goal, 24-16.
Referee: Phil Bentham
Penalties: Rhinos 4 Wolves 5
Attendance: 12,123
Top man: Chris Hill
Watch the highlights here
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