WARRINGTON Wolves left any hopes of a fightback at Langtree Park too late, failing to click into gear until they were 18 points down.

They faced a St Helens side showing they meant business, and proving their 100 per cent start to the Super League season is no fluke.

Tony Smith’s outfit matched them for large parts, exposing some defensive weaknesses but lacking a clinical touch that served them so well against Leeds Rhinos.

Saints deserved to be 12 points ahead at the interval, but it could have been different had Warrington finished off breaks from Ryan Atkins and Kevin Penny.

Instead it took Daryl Clark, burrowing over from dummy half, to get them on the scoreboard.

That method would serve the visitors well twice more, Micky Higham and Chris Hill both crossing from the play-the-ball as Wolves put in a spirited attempt at a fightback.

In fact, the final 20 minutes saw the boys in primrose and blue at their most dominant, repelled time and time again by a St Helens defence that was happy to concede penalty after penalty close to their own line.

This slowed Wolves, as did the hosts’ unwillingness to allow quick ball – something Warrington themselves had found referee Ben Thaler going to his whistle for.

It inevitably led to frustration in the Wolves ranks as at times temperatures boiled over, but they were no doubt already heated by their own first-half profligacy.

Instead, first-half scores from Joe Greenwood, Jon Wilkin and Adam Swift saw Keiron Cunningham’s side comfortably ahead at the interval eyeing a sixth successive win.

They were all well-worked scores, although Jordan Turner will be feeling slightly fortuitous after his kicking skills got a helping hand from Kevin Penny’s back.

Wolves’ reprieve, through Higham, after the break was short-lived. Had they then found the momentum carried in the final quarter the visitors may have been successful.

But a big Saints pack was creating gaps in Wolves’ line, and once Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Tommy Makinson crossed they were out of sight.

Wolves continued their fight until the end, inspired by stand-in skipper Hill, but Saints had already delivered the knockout blow.

INTERESTING NOTES

First time Wolves have lost to Saints at Langtree Park

Tony Smith named an unchanged team for the first time this season

Saints’ 40th win in 51 Super League meetings with Wolves

James Roby’s 350th appearance for Saints

MATCH FACTS

Super League Round 6. Thursday, March 19, 2015

St Helens...32 Warrington Wolves...24

St Helens: Wellens; Makinson, Turner, Dawson, Swift; Burns, Wilkin; Walmsley, Hohaia, Amor, Greenwood, Vea, Thompson. Subs: Masoe, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Richards.

Wolves: Ratchford; Penny, Currie, Atkins, Russell; Bridge, O’Brien; Hill, Clark, Sims, Philbin, Laithwaite, Westwood. Subs: Higham, Asotasi, B Evans, G King.

Scoring: Greenwood try, 18mins, Burns goal, 6-0; Clark try, 25mins, Ratchford goal, 6-6; Wilkin try, 32mins, Burns goal, 12-6; Swift try, 36mins, Burns goal, 18-6; Higham try, 49mins, O’Brien goal, 18-12; Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 55mins, Burns goals, 24-12; Makinson try, 63mins, Burns goal, 30-12; Penny try, 70mins, O’Brien goal, 30-18; Hill try, 76mins, O’Brien goal, 30-24; Burns penalty, 80mins, 32-24.

Penalties: St Helens 12 Wolves 7

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 12,618

Top man: Chris Hill

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