Wolves find their hunger again in Lowes’ second win

6:06am Thursday 19th June 2008

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Warrington Wolves 38 Hull Kingston Rovers 20.

THE hunger of the Wolves is back!

That was the stand-out factor as Jimmy Lowes masterminded his first home win as Warrington Wolves' caretaker head coach.

There was always bundles of enthusiasm about Lowes' performances in a Hunslet, Leeds or Bradford number nine shirt and on the evidence of his two wins from two so far he has managed to rekindle that quality with players who, for whatever reason, looked so disinterested at times in the final game under Paul Cullen in their previous appearance at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The determined way in which Wolves stuck into their defensive duties over the 80 minutes - especially obvious when barricading their own try line - highlighted the hunger to succeed in the June sunshine on a pitch that was looking much improved compared with earliier this season.

Impressive Ben Westwood's one-on-one bonecruncher on Kirk Netherton inches from Wolves' line when Hull KR held a 14-10 lead in the opening half was typical of the performance.

It was not the only try saver he and his teammates pulled off under pressure but possibly the most crucial.

If capable Rovers had crossed at that point Wolves would have been left chasing the game and the outcome could have been so different.

But Ben Harrison's first Super League try of his career two minutes before half time put Wolves in the perfect position to clinically set about dismantling Rovers' resistance in the second half with three tries in 11 minutes.

Lee Briers, now playing under his fifth coach during his 11 years in primrose and blue, sealed the win as he scored Wolves' last two tries, registering his 100th club try and then his 100th Wolves try.

The performance was by no means perfect and Rovers caught out Wolves' defence with several narrow-sided moves and clever handling as they twice took the lead against the run of play in the first half.

But Wolves always looked capable of racking up points, with Michael Monaghan working tirelessly behind a dominant pack, and the team would have broken the 40-point barrier for the second week running and for only the second time this season if their handling had occasionally been of a higher quality.

As it was, the 18-point margin of victory was the highest since the 38-18 home defeat of Catalans Dragons on March 2.

Match Facts.

engage Super League Round 17, June 15, 2008.

Warrington Wolves 38 Hull Kingston Rovers 20.

Wolves: Chris Hicks (5g); Chris Riley (1t), Martin Gleeson (1t), Simon Grix, Matt King; Lee Briers (2t), Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Paul Rauhihi (1t), Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood (1t), Vinnie Anderson. Subs used: Mark Gleeson, Rob Parker, Andy Bracek, Ben Harrison (1t).

Rovers: Shaun Briscoe (1t); Peter Fox (1t), Ben Cockayne, Jake Webster, Daniel Fitzhenry; Paul Cooke (2g), Michael Dobson; David Mills, Ben Fisher (1t), Mick Vella, Jason Netherton, Rhys Lovegrove, Chris Chester (1t). Subs used: Garret Crossman, Chaz I'anson, Kirk Netherton, Liam Watts.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Scoring: Westwood bursts out of two tackles to power over from a Briers pass, 5mins, Hicks converts, 6-0; Fox is sent clear by Chester's cut-out pass and Chester supports to cross, 15mins, Cooke converts, 6-6; Fitzhenry breaks down the left and feeds Fisher who touches down after a stumble, 18mins, 6-10; Clarke's dash from dummy half paves the way for Briers to supply Martin Gleeson with a route to the corner, 21mins, 10-10; Briscoe ducks under the challenge of Grix and dives over, 30mins, 10-14; Monaghan switches from right to left before guiding Harrison over with an astute pass, 38mins, Hicks converts, 16-14; Rauhihi steamrollers over from Westwood's long pass, 49mins, Hicks converts, 22-14; Briers gives Martin Gleeson room to go inside and out before handing over to Riley to score, 52mins, Hicks converts, 28-14; Clarke and Monaghan scoot away and supporting Briers is the beneficiary, 60mins, Hicks converts, 34-14; Briers intercepts Cooke's pass and races 60m, 68mins, 38-14; Fox scores following basketball passes after the final hooter, 80+mins, Cooke converts, 38-20.

Pens: Wolves 8 Hull KR 3.

Scrums: Wolves 7 Hull KR 5.

Attendance: 9,095.

Warrington Guardian top men: Westwood 3pts, Morley 2pts, Clarke 1pt.

Interesting note: Wolves have scored at least five tries in each of their last seven games against Hull KR.