WARRINGTON Wolves are into the Women’s Challenge Cup quarter-finals – and will now face neighbours St Helens for the right to play their last-eight tie at home.

The team will certainly be up against it when they take on the cup holders at Victoria Park on April 7, but winger Abi Johnston says it will show what the new-look Wire team is made of.

Sunday’s 24-6 win at London Broncos secured their progress alongside Saints from Group Three, with Sammi Simpson scoring a brace of tries.

Johnstone was also on the scoresheet along with Lauren Ellison and Grace Burnett as The Wire overcame major disruption and reshuffling due to in-game injuries to claim victory and make it two wins from two under new head coach Armani Sharrock.

“We didn’t do ourselves justice in the first half but we pulled together as a team in the second half and had a massive game,” said Johnston, who was named as the team’s player of the match.

“We travelled a long way and that didn’t help but we got our act together.

“I felt I had a good performance but there are things I can improve on for the next game.

“It’s all eyes on the Saints game now. It’s going to be a very tough game but I can’t wait to see what we are made of.”

Simpson – growing into her new role in the second row – scored in the opening minutes and the closing seconds of the game at Rosslyn Park to secure The Wire’s second win of the season.

In a game riddled with mistakes from both sides and stoppages for injuries throughout, Warrington’s game plan was disrupted as early as the first minute when prop Georgia Westwood was forced off with a suspected broken thumb.

Another reshuffle was needed moments later when teenage full-back Anna Dennis was the victim of an alleged hip-drop tackle and had to leave the field with an ankle injury.

However, Warrington dominated the first half despite Broncos drawing level on the score board through a converted try from Jasmine Rampton, who took advantage of some weak defence to crash over by the posts.

Loose forward Emily Downes made constant inroads into the London defence with her powerful runs down the middle and Charlie Magraw’s kicking game forced error after error from the home side.

Another fumbled kick from Magraw led to Wire regaining the lead on 20 minutes when, from the scrum, the Warrington forwards set up field position then moved the ball through hands to send winger Ellison in at the corner.

London seemed to grow in confidence from the restart but resolute defence – and numerous handling errors – prevented them from adding to their score and in the end, it was lost ball that cost them again and led to the move which saw prop Burnett crash through some poor defence to go in by the sticks and take Warrington into the break with a 14-6 lead.

The Wire started the second half as they had left off, with strong runs from Downes, Burnett and young forward Jasmine Wilson coming off the bench.

But if Wire had hoped to exert their superiority after the break, it wasn’t to be, with numerous breaks in play for injuries, notably the home side when defending their own line.

Stand-of Millie Bell also left the field with a head injury meaning yet another early reshuffle of the troops.

Johnston finally put an end to any lingering London hopes when she weaved through the London defence midway through the half, and it was left for Simpson to have the final word in the dying seconds.

Wolves: Anna Dennis; Abi Johnston, Nicola Barnett, Grace Wray, Lauren Ellison; Millie Bell, Charlie Magraw; Georgia Westwood, Dani Bound, Grace Burnett, Katie May Williams, Sammi Simpson, Emily Downs. Subs: Megan Condliffe, Jasmine Wilson, Sarina Tamou, Tina Milan. 18th: Rebecca Nixon