We’re digging into the files to unveil the 150 greatest Warrington Wolves wins as part of the club’s 150th-anniversary celebrations. Using Guardian headlines, match reports, photographs, and cartoons, the countdown continues...
Victory 46
Saturday, January 29, 1994
Halifax 18 Warrington 22
Guardian headline: Jonathan Davies – a saviour and a God
WARRINGTON fans fell in love with Jonathan Davies because of performances like this one.
Alastair McIntyre reported: “An incredible individual display of Welsh wizardry by Mr Magic Jonathan Davies gave Warrington a marvellous Challenge Cup victory at Halifax.
"The superstar conjured up two tries of world class and kicked five goals in Saturday’s thriller at Thrum Hall to put Wire firmly on the road to Wembley.
"To say he single-handedly won Wire the match would be a touch unfair to the rest of Brian Johnson’s men but it was Davies who was the difference between the two sides in this pulsating cup cracker.
"With the scores locked at 12-12 he touched down for his first super solo effort on 58 minutes.
"The ball was fed to him via Greg Mackey and Kevin Ellis and after beating Paul Bishop he raced 25 yards and flew past full-back Steve Lay in the corner with inches to spare from the touchline.
"However, his second try was even more staggering.
"With 12 minutes left on the clock and the game still in the balance, he received the ball 40 yards out from John Thursfield.
"With nothing seemingly on he raced past Roy Southernwood and thanks to an electrifying injection of pace he bisected five covering Fax players who were left for dead to score by the posts.
"That touchdown was the game breaker and it left the Wire fans behind the posts worshipping Davies like a god as the balance and speed displayed was awe inspiring.”
The Warrington team was: Lee Penny; Mark Forster, Allan Bateman, Jonathan Davies, Robert Myler; Kevin Ellis, Greg Mackey; Craig Teitzel, John Thursfield, Rowland Phillips, Paul Darbyshire, Mike Gregory, Kelly Shelford. Subs: Bob Jackson, Mark Hilton.
Victory 45
Saturday, September 29, 2012
St Helens 18 Warrington Wolves 36
Guardian headline: Wolves reach first Grand Final
Two weeks after losing 28-6 to St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in a qualifying play-off, Warrington turned the tables on the Saints to reach their first Grand Final.
Mike Parsons reported: “It was in the first half of Saturday’s semi-final qualifier against one-time hoodoo rivals St Helens that Wolves paved the way for this week’s ‘Gold Trafford’ ticket rush.
"With an energised mobile pack, they shut down the majority of the threat offered by danger men James Roby, Sia Soliola, Lance Hohaia and Jon Wilkin, soaking up an inevitable storm of attacks as a predatory Saints buoyed by their play-off win at Warrington a fortnight earlier stalked a seventh successive trip to their Theatre of Nightmares.
"It was in the gargantuan defensive effort that all the calf-busting running up those torturous Cronulla sand hills on the pre-season training camp in Australia last January came into their own as the mental strength of the team held firm.
"And although Tony Smith’s men conceded three cleverly constructed tries from Tommy Makinson, Francis Meli and Paul Wellens, Wolves crossed on two of the four occasions they entered Saints’ 22-metre area to trail only 14-12 at the break.
"That must have hurt the Red V men, with a wonderful try from Simon Grix the stinger two minutes before half-time.
"A second psychological blow was struck seven minutes into the second half after a destructive drive from Mike Cooper in what must have been his best game for the club.
"He earned Lee Briers time to place an accurate kick for Joel Monaghan to gather at the second attempt ahead of Meli to give Wolves, with the help of Brett Hodgson’s third conversion, a lead they never looked likely to lose.
"As Saints prepared themselves for further strikes on their left, Wolves showed they could be just as lethal on the opposite flank where Richie Myler and Ryan Atkins worked openings for two tries from on-form Trent Waterhouse and a second of the night from Chris Riley – all in a devastating seven-minute spell.
"It was seven minutes that paid homage to all the preceding hard graft in defence, the pack men getting over the top of their counterparts and the general kicking game of Briers, who continually used his boot to pin Saints deep in their own half.
"There was no way back for Saints from there and Briers knew it as he smiled his way through the final 10 minutes, not out of arrogance but through the sheer joy of this ambitious group of players accomplishing its capabilities.”
The Warrington team was: Brett Hodgson; Chris Riley, Stefan Ratchford, Ryan Atkins, Joel Monaghan; Lee Briers, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Micky Higham, Ben Harrison, Ben Westwood, Trent Waterhouse, Simon Grix. Subs: Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Paul Wood, Mike Cooper.
Victory 44
Sunday, May 10, 1987
St Helens 8 Warrington 18
Guardian headline: Wire win despite injury shocks
Eight days after St Helens had lost 19-18 to Halifax at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final, Warrington dished out more pain to Alex Murphy’s side in this Premiership Trophy semi-final.
John Dickens reported: “Warrington won through to their second successive Stones Bitter Premiership Final, despite taking three more injury blows.
"Wire made it yet another disappointment for St Helens, only a week after they had lost at Wembley.
"Sunday’s semi-final at Knowsley Road saw Warrington overcome the setback of losing Keith Holden, Ronnie Duane and Mark Roskell through injury at various stages in the game, in addition to the longer-term injuries which had already robbed the side of several other first-team regulars, including assistant coach Les Boyd.
"So Wire had enough to worry about, yet they fought tremendously and harried Saints into so many mistakes that the game appeared handed to them.
"Had it not been for their wonderful, wholehearted effort, however, Saints may well have snatched it.
"As things turned out, Warrington were let off the hook a little as chances were missed by Alex Murphy’s side but it was because of the sureness of Warrington’s tackling that St Helens made the errors as they became frustrated in their efforts to shake off the close attention of the Warrington players.
"In addition, two magnificent passes by Kevin Tamati brought the first two Warrington tries as the prop-forward put together his best performance of this season but it still took some tremendous tackles to hold off Saints.
"It was a fine tackle on Neil Holding which left Roskell injured and carried off then another effort by Mark Forster after a chase stopped Barrie Ledger from getting in.
"Despite the changes, Warrington struck twice in the opening minutes of the second half and those two tries really settled it.
"As Tamati was being tackled 40 yards out on the right, he flipped a pass back to Des Drummond which sent the winger away, pulling clear of Kevin McCormack as he went in to the posts.
"Five minutes later, Warrington won a scrum 30 yards out and the ball went from Paul Bishop to Barry Peters and then Brian Johnson. Once the full-back had the ball, a try was on the cards and Bishop goaled it to put Warrington in a commanding position.
"That was until the injuries left them with Holden hobbling on the wing.
"There were chances for Saints had they used the wing, but their handling was faulty under pressure and Warrington’s tackling was of the highest order throughout.”
The Warrington team was: Brian Johnson; Des Drummond, Joe Ropati, Barry Peters, Mark Forster; Keith Holden, Paul Bishop; Kevin Tamati, Mark Roskell, Bob Jackson, Tony Humphries, Mark Roberts, Ronnie Duane. Subs: Gary Sanderson, Bob Eccles.
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