WARRINGTON Wolves climbed to the top of Super League by getting back to winning ways on Friday evening.
However, they were made to work extremely hard for it by winless Wakefield Trinity, for whom Kevin Proctor’s second-half red card proved pivotal.
With the scores level at 12-12, the New Zealand international was dismissed for a high tackle on Josh Thewlis, who had earlier scored twice to put The Wire 12-0 ahead after being named at full-back in place of the benched Matt Dufty.
Josh Thewlis on his way to scoring his second try (Image: Mike Boden)
Stefan Ratchford’s penalty booted Wire into the lead before Matty Ashton, twice, and George Williams gave the scoreline an element of comfort despite an unconvincing display.
Wakefield had pulled level thanks to tries from Morgan Smith and Kelepi Tanginoa before Matty Ashurst grabbed them a third try late on.
More reaction to follow
> Our five Wire stand-outs from victory over bottom side
> Everything Daryl Powell said in reaction to Wakefield victory
> Powell explains why Dufty was dropped to the bench and updates on Clark injury
> Our five key talking points from Wire's scrappy win over Trin
> WIRE SOCIAL: 'Unconvincing to say the least'
> Re-live the action from The Halliwell Jones Stadium as it happened
Match facts:
Super League, Round 11
Friday, May 5, 2023
Warrington Wolves...32 Wakefield Trinity...18
Wolves: Josh Thewlis; Matty Russell, Peter Mata'utia, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Josh Drinkwater; Paul Vaughan, Danny Walker, James Harrison, Matty Nicholson, Ben Currie, Josh McGuire. Subs: Sam Kasiano, Matt Dufty, Joe Philbin, Joe Bullock
Trinity: Will Dagger; Liam Kay, Lee Gaskell, Jay Pitts, Jorge Taufua; Morgan Smith, Mason Lino; Jai Whitbread, Harry Bowes, Kevin Proctor, Matty Ashurst, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jordan Crowther. Subs: Liam Hood, Sam Eseh, Josh Bowden, Renouf Atoni
Scoring: Thewlis try, 9mins, Ratchford goal, 6-0; Thewlis try, 12mins, Ratchford goal, 12-0; Smith try, 19mins, Dagger goal, 12-6; Tanginoa try, 24mins, Dagger goal, 12-12; Ratchford penalty, 54mins, 14-12; Ashton try, 58mins, Ratchford goal, 20-12; Williams try, 71mins, Ratchford goal, 26-12; Ashurst try, 76mins, Dagger goal, 26-18; Ashton try, 78mins, Ratchford goal, 32-18
Penalties: Wolves 4 Trinity 3
Sent off: Proctor (53mins, high tackle)
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
Attendance: 10,209
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