WARRINGTON Wolves are out of the Challenge Cup.
The Wire were dumped out at the quarter-final stage by a Wigan Warriors side who played for most of the game with 12 men after Kaide Ellis’ seventh-minute red card for head-butting Stefan Ratchford.
Despite that, a try from on-loan Warrington centre Toby King and a Harry Smith penalty had the hosts deservedly 8-0 ahead following an error-strewn display from the visitors.
Joe Bullock touched down to raise hopes of a comeback in the second half, but Wire conceded again shortly afterwards as Abbas Miski dived over.
Josh Thewlis touched down late on to set up a thrilling finish and the winger thought he had a second try to snatch victory, only for referee Liam Moore to rule that Peter Mata'utia's pass to send him over had drifted forward.
Check out highlights below
Wigan Warriors 14 Warrington Wolves 12, post-match reaction
> BIG MATCH VERDICT: Wire pay the ultimate price for losing their heads
> THE MORNING AFTER: Wire's inconsistency claims its first major casualty
> Lack of energy, disrespect for the ball and 'brain explosions' highlighted by BBC Sport pundits
> 'We killed ourselves,' says Warrington Wolves skipper
> Everything Daryl Powell said after Wire's Challenge Cup exit
> WIRE SOCIAL: Fans fume after 'shambolic, unprofessional performance'
> Re-live the action from the DW Stadium as it happened
Match facts
Challenge Cup, quarter final
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Wigan Warriors...14 Warrington Wolves...12
Warriors: Jai Field; Abbas Miski, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Ethan Havard, Brad O'Neill, Liam Byrne, Joe Shorrocks, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis. Subs: Cade Cust, Brad Singleton, Morgan Smithies, Harvie Hill
Wolves: Matt Dufty; Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton; Peter Mata'utia, George Williams; Gil Dudson, Danny Walker, Paul Vaughan, James Harrison, Ben Currie, Sam Kasiano. Subs: Joe Philbin, Daryl Clark, Lucas Green, Joe Bullock
Scoring: King try, 10mins, Smith goal, 6-0; Smith penalty, 23mins, 8-0; Bullock try, 54mins, Ratchford goal, 8-6; Miski try, 58mins, Smith goal, 14-6; Thewlis try, 74mins, Ratchford goal, 14-12
Penalties: Warriors 5 Wolves 3
Red card: Ellis (7mins, head butt)
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 9,302
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