INGENUITY and hard graft in difficult circumstances earned The Wire an invaluable two points at Belle Vue.

Under pressure to make the top eight and running out of troops, Wolves found a way to succeed against rejuvenated basement dwellers who know how to play their bumpy and lumpy ‘cow-field’ pitch.

Not only did Tony Smith have 10 absentees through injury and suspension, six of his chosen 17 were heavily strapped and others had been affected by illness – including Ben Harrison who had been poorly on the bus journey.

Warrington were severely depleted in the pack.

Wakefield saw this as Warrington’s weakness and tried to starve the visitors of possession and get over the top – to a degree of success.

And although a good kicking and offloading game – as Wolves put fast men up against big men – earned tries that gave them a 22-6 lead, Wakefield had all the momentum early in the second half after the gap was cut to eight points with the third of Jacob Miller’s four tries.

At that point, Wolves had not received a single penalty from Phil Bentham and legs were tiring in the warm but breezy conditions, with Tony Smith delaying substitutions as long as possible.

That situation changed, and so did the game.

Two of the remaining bigger men, Roy Asotasi and Joe Philbin, were replaced by impact hooker Brad Dwyer and teenage workhorse Sam Wilde.

With Dwyer at number 9 between Chris Hill and Ben Westwood, usual full back Stef Ratchford joining Wilde in the second row and hooker Clark falling back to loose forward, Wolves were looking lightweight but mobile.

Not for the first time since his return from London Broncos, Dwyer was the game changer.

Within six minutes of his arrival, destructive running from dummy half had played a key role in tries for Clark and Richie Myler that put Wolves out of reach at 34-14.

It was a gutsy display and Tony Smith reminded older brother Brian – the new Wakefield boss – what he is made of too!

MATCH FACTS

Super League Round 21, Sunday, July 12, 2015

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats...20 Warrington Wolves...40

Wildcats: Kevin Locke; Jordan Tansey, Joe Arundel, Reece Lyne, Chris Riley; Craig Hall, Jacob Miller; Nick Scruton, Paul McShane, Ben Kavanagh, Matty Ashurst, Danny Washbrook, Chris Annakin. Subs: Scott Anderson, Matt Ryan, Michael Sio, Anthony Walker.

Wolves: Matty Russell; Gene Ormsby, Gary Wheeler, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Penny; Gareth O’Brien, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ben Harrison, Ben Westwood, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford. Subs: Brad Dwyer, Roy Asotasi, Toby King, Sam Wilde.

Scoring: Ratchford try, 8mins, O’Brien goal, 0-6; Philbin try, 14mins, O’Brien goal, 0-12; Miller try, 18mins, Miller goal, 6-12; Russell try, 24mins, 6-16; Westwood try, 28mins, O’Brien goal, 6-22; Miller try, 38mins, 10-22; Miller try, 45mins, Miller 14-22; Clark try, 56mins, O’Brien goal, 14-28; Myler try, 58mins, O’Brien goal, 14-34; Miller try, 69mins, Hall goal, 20-34; Russell try, 78mins, O’Brien goal, 20-40.

Penalties: Wildcats 4 Wolves 3

Referee: Phil Bentham

Attendance: 3,354

Top man: Daryl Clark