Ashton hat-trick gives Warrington victory over St Helens

Betfred Super League

Warrington (16) 32

Goals: Sneyd and Thewlis 2 Tries: King, Ashton 3, Tai, and Dufty

St. Helens (14) 18

Warrington defeated St. Helens for the third time in five weeks to move up to seventh in the Super League with Matty Ashton’s hat-trick.

After winning the first league game between the two last month, Wire also added this third straight win over Saints to their already-winnable Challenge Cup tie.

Before Ashton crossed twice in the left corner, Toby King and Saints responded with tries from Jon Bennison and Mark Percival, leaving the visitors with 16-14 going at the break.

Warrington won the Super League for the fifth time in five games, while a torn Saints team, which had lost its fourth straight game to 2025, are still in fifth place.

The first half of this season’s two tight matches left little space between the teams.

The hosts opened the scoring with a Saints knock-on, and King slammed off the first tackler to head over in the left corner from the scrum.

After working the play left, Marc Sneyd scored a 40-20 kick to put his side deep into Saints’ half to send Ashton over in the corner.

The visitors took full advantage of the restart with quick hands to send Bennison into the top corner before Warrington gave in to the Saints.

Before the break, Percival scored twice for the Saints to reduce the 12-point lead.

After fending off three tacklers, he first forced the defense to draw it 10 metres out and then stepped off his left boot to the line for a second try.

After the break, Warrington increased their lead as Ashton made a long pass to the left to make room for him to spectacularly tap into the corner to add to his hat-trick.

Then, as Pervical had a try ruled out, Dufty clung on to a pass between his legs before his wide pass set up Tai to slide over for his first try in a year.

Before the visitors scored a consolation try with a work from Bennison into the right corner, Dufty cut back off his right boot to scorch through a tired Saints defense beyond doubt.

Sam Burgess, the head coach of Warrington Wolves, told BBC Radio Merseyside:

The team is truly concerned for one another. A truly energetic performance was given. I’ve been here for 18 months, and I’d probably consider that to be my most gratifying accomplishment.

We had a lot to lose, but I’m proud of how they handled hardship and triumphed.

“The effort was outstanding, but there are still things we can tidy up,” said one player.

Paul Wellens, the head of St. Helens, told BBC Radio Merseyside:

“It’s obviously really disappointing,” he said. Not just the outcome, but also the performance. Because it is far beyond the required standard, some soul-searching must be conducted both individually and collectively.

I’m in charge of this team’s performance and results. I’ve never, in a second, avoided that.

“We’ve been playing a really sloppy game for the second week in a row.” We’ve spent a lot of money on cheap things, and we need to fix that.

Changes: Harrison, Crowther, Musgrove, and Philbin

St. Helens: Sailor, Bennison, Sambou, Percival, Murphy, Welsby, Whitby, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Whitley, Knowles

Mbye, Paasi, Delaney, and Stephens exchange