WARRINGTON were mostly playing catch-up against second-placed Liverpool St Helens on Saturday before finally succumbing 23-19.

They were never more than seven points adrift though, having trailed 10-3, 13-6 and 23-16 at various stages, and got their noses in front early in the second half.

That was courtesy of mercurial centre Kieran Hughes snapping up a loose ball and going the length of the pitch for Warrington’s only try, which was converted by Matt Beeley for a 16-13 lead that they held on to for 20 minutes.

LSH hit back with two tries and with about 10 minutes left on the clock Warrington were on the offensive when an LSH player received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Instead of playing advantage, however, where Warrington looked to have the extra men, the whistle went for the penalty.

Beeley duly converted and Warrington went back on the offensive to gain a line-out five metres from the LSH line.

A practised combination from Green and Chris White at the front of the line-out put White over the try line but the ball was adjudged not to have gone five metres.

This was a good performance but Warrington will need to tighten up on passing, lineout control and make better use of the elusive talents of centre Hughes or of the speed of winger Turner, who received scant service all match, if they are to turn narrow defeats into victories.