HOPE is in the air again.

As deflating as the losses to St Helens and Salford were, smashing 54 points past Hull KR on Easter Monday was a lift everybody with primrose and blue persuasion needed.

Some thrilling rugby led to cracking tries being scored and to see The Wire ram home their superiority with four tries in a 10-minute spell late on was a joy to behold.

Warrington Guardian:

The result does need some perspective though, with history telling us the second game in four days over Easter can be a lottery and bring about blow-out scores as tired bodies and minds fall away when it becomes clear a contest has been lost.

Arguably the players that Hull KR were missing from their 'derby' hammering at the hands of Hull FC on Good Friday were more pivotal on the whole than those not chosen by The Wire head coach Steve Price.

Veteran stand-off Danny McGuire is their general, hooker Shaun Lunt is another of their leaders and so to lose form prop Mitch Garbutt with a knee injury in the warm-up was a further setback to Rovers boss Tim Sheens, who has a less experienced squad to select from.

While Wire were missing Ben Currie, Mike Cooper, Ryan Atkins and Ben Westwood, Price was able to recall England Knights internationals Tom Lineham and Toby King, hand a first start to the hard-working Matt Davis and give Tongan powerhouse Sitaleki Akauola his first appearance of the campaign.

Warrington Guardian:

Matt Davis, on his first start for The Wire. Picture: Mike Boden

Important last-ditch tackles after long-distance chases by Josh Charnley, who was carrying an ankle injury, on Will Dagger at 0-0 and then Daryl Clark on Craig Hall at 6-6 would have sapped Rovers mentally and given their Wire teammates an energy boost.

In the end, Warrington were too strong and too smart for a Rovers team that started strongly but started to wilt after the first quarter.

Patience paid off for Price's men as an 18-6 lead was established by the break and then two tries in five minutes at the start of the second half put the game to bed before the late scoring rally.

Warrington Guardian:

Two tries for Joe Philbin against Hull KR. Picture: Mike Boden

Through it all, Blake Austin was masterful, Stefan Ratchford was elusive and on fire with nine conversions from nine attempts, Ben Murdoch-Masila was a constant nuisance to the Rovers defence, Daryl Clark was a bundle of energy and Bryson Goodwin was destructive with the ball.

Warrington Guardian:

Blake Austin crossed for Wire's opening try. Picture: Mike Boden

Wire can use the confidence gained from this win to kick on with chasing St Helens again for the Super League leadership.

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Wire's widest margin of victory against Hull KR in the Super League era, beating previous best of 40 points in 2007

Warrington Guardian:

Sitalei Akauola scored Warrington's last of nine tries against Hull KR. Picture: Mike Boden

. Warrington unbeaten against Hull KR since Challenge Cup semi-final of 2015

. Stefan Ratchford's nine goals is a record for a Wire player in an away game against Hull KR, beating the eight by Lee Briers in 2008

Warrington Guardian:

Stefan Ratchford on fire with the boot. Picture: Mike Boden

. Sitaleki Akauola's first appearance of 2019, and his first try

. Matt Davis' first start for The Wire

VIEW: Wire faces in the crowd at KCOM Craven Park

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Round 12, Monday, April 22, 2019

Hull KR…6 Warrington Wolves…54

Rovers: Will Dagger; Craig Hall, Jimmy Keinhorst, Ben Crooks, Junior Vaivai; Josh Drinkwater, Chris Atkin; Robbie Mulhern, Tommy Lee, Owen Harrison, Joel Tomkins, Danny Addy, George Lawler. Subs: Harry Bardle, Kane Linnett, Adam Rooks, Weller Hauraki.

Wolves: Stef Ratchford; Josh Charnley, Toby King, Bryson Goodwin, Tom Lineham; Blake Austin, Dec Patton; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Lama Tasi, Jack Hughes, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Matt Davis. Subs: Jason Clark, Joe Philbin, Sita Akauola, Harvey Livett.

READ: When the scoreboard operator struggles to keep up with The Wire

Scoring: Crooks try, 12mins, Hall goal, 6-0; Austin try, 17mins, Ratchford goal, 6-6; Lineham try, 25mins, Ratchford goal, 6-12; Philbin try, 37mins, Ratchford goal, 6-18; Charnley try, 41mins, Ratchford goal, 6-24; Goodwin try, 45mins, Ratchford goal, 6-30; Philbin try, 65mins, Ratchford goal, 6-36; King try, 67mins, Ratchford goal, 6-42; Lineham try, 72mins, Ratchford goal, 6-48; Akauola try, 75mins, Ratchford goal, 6-54.

Warrington Guardian:

Wing kings Josh Charnley and Tom Lineham touching down against Hull KR. Pictures: Mike Boden

Warrington Guardian:

Penalties: Hull KR 7 Wolves 6

Referee: Jack Smith

Attendance: 7,111

Top Man: Blake Austin

Watch the tries from the game below: