Warrington Wolves held off a brave fightback from Wakefield Trinity to seal a 27-16 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and maintain their perfect start to the new Betfred Super League season.
After Marc Sneyd kicked a penalty to put Wolves ahead, Toafofoa Sipley pounced in the 33rd minute and smashed the ball to the ground after initially being held up on the line, and after a lengthy review by the video referee, the try was awarded.
The visitors maintained their momentum with a second try just three minutes later after a break from Danny Walker and Albert Hopoate went over under the posts.
Just before half-time, Sipley was booked for repeated fouls and Max Jowitt kicked the resulting penalty as Warrington led 14-2 at the break.
Wakefield rallied at the start of the second half and made their advantage count when Jake Trueman’s round pass down the left found Jayden Myers who dived over in the corner.
But Warrington hit right back when Sneyd’s kick was touched down by Josh Smith, before another penalty restored their lead at 22-10 just after the hour.
However, Trinity showed great spirit to come back with 10 minutes remaining through Oliver Pratt’s try after a Jack Sinfield through which Jowitt converted.
Warrington finally sealed the win in the 78th minute with a well-worked effort when a pinpoint kick from Sneyd towards the corner was palmed back by Smith and Toby King pounced.
St Helens cruise to big win in Perpignan
A huge second half propelled St Helens to a 36-4 win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan for their second win of the season.
The first try came after 11 minutes when Shane Wright broke through the center of the home defense before laying the ball down from Daryl Clark to race forward and mark his 350th Super League appearance with the opening points from
evening.
Jackson Klemmer added the conversion for a 6-0 lead and it stayed that way the rest of the half as the Dragons were unable to capitalize on a few chances to get on the board themselves.
However, the second half was largely one-way traffic as Clark picked out Jacob Host to charge over for the second try of the afternoon in the 50th minute and 10 minutes later Hastings found Wright who spun his way over the line to score.
St Helens’ won their second game in a row after their season opener saw them suffer defeat at Warrington Wolves
Clark got the fourth after Alex Walmsley put the Saints ahead and Hastings’ fourth conversion of the afternoon made it 24-0.
The Catalans pulled one back 10 minutes from time to avoid a whitewash when Josh Simms stormed down the left and played the ball in for Charlie Staines to cross in the corner, but Toby Sexton missed the conversion.
Saints kept pushing. Hastings kicked a penalty with nine minutes remaining to add two points to the tally and with more to come at the death when Kyle Feldt scored two tries in the space of three minutes.
First Harry Robertson found him in the corner to force his way over the line and then at the death he leapt high to tuck in Hastings’ kick to add further gloss to the goal line.