WARRINGTON Wolves’ blend of experience and youth proved to be too much for Widnes Vikings’ new-look Super League side to handle in the Boxing Day friendly at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Early skirmishes involving Widnes’ Aussie new boy Anthony Watts and Wolves’ England Knights scrum half Richie Myler gave early indication that this would be a full-blooded affair.

Watts only lasted five minutes, though, before limping off.

Early domination belonged to Warrington and new signing Stefan Ratchford had a hand in two tries as Wolves took a 10-0 lead.

His long pass from Chris Hill’s supply put Rhys Evans over in the corner in the 12th minute although the former Salford man was well wide with his conversion attempt.

There was nothing wrong with his accurate passing again, though, in the 19th minute when he accepted a Richie Myler pass and slipped a lovely pass for Blythe to make the most of space created by Tyrone McCarthy’s dart. Myler converted for 10-0.

Some sloppy handling started to cost Warrington possession and territory and it gave Vikings the chance to get a foothold in the game.

And as Myler lay injured over they try line, Vikings’ debutant Scott Moore drove over the top of Myler and a pile of bodies to reward the visitors for their first threatening attack. Another debutant, Patrick Ah Van, added the extras to cut the gap to four points after 27 minutes.

Wolves lost Myler to the injury and that resulted in Simon Grix switching to scrum half and Ryan Shaw entering play, with some shuffling around accommodating him on the right wing.

A scrambled kick defeated Evans and allowed Thomas Coyle to pounce three minutes later and Ah Van’s conversion gave Widnes the lead.

Evans’ second try straight from a scrum on the Vikings’ 30-metre line handed Shaw an easy conversion to give Wolves a 16-12 half-time lead.

There was still time for a Boxing Day blow-up on the halfway line, which resulted in ex-Saints hooker Moore being sent to the sin bin for lighting the fuse.

Evans was close to his hat-trick try at the start of the second half but just could not quite reach Ratchford’s cross-field kick.

Tony Smith started to ring the changes for Warrington.

Skipper Mickey Higham left the field for Brad Dwyer’s first taste of first-team action but James Laithewaite’s introduction was the most dramatic.

With his first touch he cut through the middle at full pace, handed on to Chris Riley and the full back found Rhys Williams to squeeze over in the corner under pressure. Shaw convertd from the touchline to extend Wolves’ lead to 22-12.

Dwyer got on the end of a lovely inside ball from Grix to bag Wolves’ fifth try in the 61st minute, with Shaw again converting for 28-12.

Vikings had a chance to reduce the deficit but a crunching tackle from Williams bundled Frank Winterstein into touch by the corner flag.

Wolves struck on their next raid, though, with latest sub James Mendeika storming clear down the left and setting Williams free, with the Welsh international finding support on his inside from Ben Currie to complete a 50-metre move and put Wolves 32-12 ahead with 13 minutes remaining.

Widnes were not going to give up the ghost, though.

Anthony Mullalley sped over in support of Ben Davies’ break, with Danny Craven converting in the 76th minute.

Wolves: Chris Riley; Rhys Evans, Matty Blythe, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Williams; Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler; Mike Cooper, Mickey Higham, Chris Hill, Simon Grix, Tyrone McCarthy, Ben Harrison. Subs: Ben Evans, Danny Bridge, Ben Currie, Glenn Riley, Jordan Burke, Ben Hellewell, James Laithwaite, Ryan Shaw, Brooke Broughton, James Saltonstall, Brad Dwyer, James Mendeika.

Vikings: Danny Craven; Paddy Flynn, Stefan Marsh, Willie Isa, Patrick Ah Van; Anthony Watts, Lloyd White; Ben Kavanagh, Thomas Coyle, Ben Davies, Frank Winterstein, Macgraff Leuluai, Kurt Haggerty. Subs: Declan Hulme, Scott Moore, Hep Cahill, Anthony Mullally, Alex Gerrard, Jack Owens.

Attendance: 5567.