WARRINGTON Wolves kept their Grand Final ambitions alive with a second-half comeback in the play-offs clash with rivals Widnes Vikings at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Paddy Flynn crossed twice early on with Rhys Hanbury adding a third with a long-distance individual effort, before Joel Monaghan replied as Vikings took the lead into the break.

But Monaghan added his second immediately after the interval and his hat-trick came shortly after a Rhys Evans effort.

Vikings were able to sustain some early pressure when Joel Monaghan was penalised for crossing inside his own half and moments later Chris Dean was stopped short.

But when the visitors worked the right they found Kevin Brown in space. The Dream Team pick delivered a neat grubber which narrowly before going dead was grounded by Flynn and awarded by the video referee. Danny Tickle converted.

A knock on in the play-the-ball from James Laithwaite after eight minutes handed Widnes the put-in inside Wolves’ half.

Good hands from Jon Clarke and Brown found Rhys Hanbury joining the line before Wolves’ defence recovered well.

But, in almost identical fashion to the first try four minutes earlier, Brown slotted a kick beyond the Wolves defence for the oncoming Flynn.

Rhys Evans looked favourite to collect this time, but the bounce deceived the winger and his Vikings counterpart reacted quickest to get a hand on the ball.

The try was again awarded with the help of the video referee and Tickle converted from a tight angle to give the visitors a 12-point advantage inside 10 minutes.

Tony Smith’s side were struggling to get out of their half with the ball in hand and again lost possession when Micky Higham knocked on in the tackle.

However, a high tackle on Trent Waterhouse – playing his last game for Wolves at The Halliwell Jones Stadium – awarded the hosts an opportunity.

Richie Myler spotted his chance to kick beyond the Vikings’ try line, but the defence was able to gather at the second attempt with Ryan Atkins lurking.

With 17 minutes on the clock and Wolves enjoying more territory, a high tackle form two-try man Flynn on Chris Bridge saw the Widnes man escape without punishment.

It did, however, give Wolves a penalty 10 metres out and with tensions rising Chris Hill was stopped in front of the posts – only for Higham to knock on from the play-the-ball.

Wolves were again guilty of giving away possession on 20 minutes when Macgraff Leuluai stoled from Ben Harrison.

Brown was found from the scrum and his deep kick forced Wolves full back Matty Russell to clear into touch with his feet.

Moments later and as Vikings exploited space on the left Cameron Phelps was unable to hold on and fumbled with Patrick Ah Van in support and a free run at the line ahead of him.

With 15 minutes of the half remaining Smith introduced Michael Monaghan for his last appearance at The Halliwell Jones.

Monaghan was immediately involved as Wolves worked the ball through hands to Russell, but the full back was unable to find a way through.

Within seconds a penalty 45 metres out gave Denis Betts’ side a chance to extend their lead, but Tickle pulled his attempt wide of the left hand post.

The Vikings boss was not too disheartened, as within a minute Hanbury had opened his legs to shrug off the tackle of opposite full back Russell before evading the clutches of Waterhouse to dive over on the left.

Tickle’s conversion crept over with the help of the post.

Wolves’ individual errors were beginning to stack up and after pinning the visitors over their own line for a drop out, Myler dropped unopposed from the resulting kick.

But it was great dive pass from the scrum half that got Wolves on the board for the first time with four minutes of the half remaining.

Myler’s pass found Bridge in support on the right and he in turn handed on for Joel Monaghan to dive over in the far corner. Ratchford converted from a tight angle.

Brown added a drop goal before the break to put his side beyond two converted tries of Wolves.

Wolves began the second half at a pace they had rarely reached in the first and within two minutes Brown was forced to punch behind his own dead ball line from Myler’s grubber.

One minute later and Smith’s side had reduced the deficit. Myler, Bridge and Joel Monaghan again the combination for Super League’s top try scorer to cross.

Myler’s miss pass found Bridge, who drew his man and enabled Monaghan to dive towards the corner and roll Ah Van to ground over the line. Ratchford added the extras from wide out.

Hanbury was unable to catch a high kick from Gareth O’Brien five minutes later and Wolves were again building pressure on the Widnes line.

With Bridge stopped close the line on the right, the ball was whisked out to Myler and the O’Brien, who put Evans in on the left side. Ratchford could not convert.

Another long kick from O’Brien relieved some Widnes pressure on Wolves’ line, although Michael Monaghan took the full force of Flynn when stopping the winger in his own half.

Vikings were back under the cosh when Phil Joseph juggled and fumbled inside his own half 15 minutes into the second half.

Wolves looked to have made a mess of the scrum, but when Ben Currie cleverly offloaded to Bridge Wolves’ top points scorer was able to shake off the tackle and drive forward.

Bridge made good ground before sending Monaghan in for his hat-trick and 35th try of the campaign. Ratchford goaled to send Wolves three points clear for the first time in the game.

Bridge almost became creator again with 20 minutes remaining when he offloaded smartly for Ratchford from Myler’s pass, but the former Salford man was halted before the line.

Vikings’ huge first half performance was beginning to tell as the game appeared to be stretching in Wolves’ favour, with Russell twice enjoying long breaks from full back.

Betts’ side did not lack fight, however, and it took three Wolves defenders to stop Joseph crossing from close range after 65 minutes.

Much of Wolves’ drive had come from Russell, who had been superb since the break, but when the full back dropped a high kick under pressure from Leuluai he took a big hit from the forward and lay motionless on the ground.

The Scotland international got a standing ovation as he was stretchered from the field and replaced by Ratchford.

With eight minutes remaining and Widnes on the attack, Joel Monaghan intercepted and looked like adding his fourth but after sprinting almost 70 metres was tracked down by Hanbury.

Bridge was next to go close with three minutes on the clock, shortly followed by Atkins but Vikings’ defence ensured the game would go to the hooter.

But it was Wolves who had enough to maintain their lead and book a trip to Castleford Tigers on Thursday.