Taylor-Wray stars as Warrington beat St Helens

Betfred Super League

Warrington (18) 24

Tries: King, Taylor-Wray, Hopoate, Thewlis Goals: Sneyd 4

St Helens (0) 14

Cai Taylor-Wray put in a breakthrough performance as the young Warrington Wolves full-back inspired his side to an opening night Super League win over St Helens.

The 19-year-old, filling the boots of Matt Dufty who left the club last month, scored a try from a lung-busting run and was crucial in two more as the Wire earned their win in a fantastic encounter at a sold-out Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Toby King slid over the line to put the Wire ahead before Taylor-Wray ran in while Albert Hopoate rounded out the half.

King’s opener came after a sustained spell of pressure from the Wire with Hopoate prospering from a wayward goal-line drop-out, with George Williams going on to provide the offload for King to power over the line.

If that was good, their second try was even better – after picking the ball up deep in his own half, Taylor-Wray raced in from 70 metres and outran Saints full-back Welsby to the line.

Taylor-Wray was in the mix once more as he showed incredible pace to weave his way through the St Helens defensive line as the Wire went on to feed Hopoate through to score at the corner.

Saints thought they had hit back when Welsby went over but, under new rules brought in this season, the try was reviewed by video referee Chris Kendall after the fact despite being given on the field.

Upon viewing the try again, however, Kendall ruled it out having judged that David Klemmer obstructed Kelepi Tanginoa in the build-up and Saints had another chalked off soon after following an Alex Walmsley double movement.

Saints continued their pressure and were rewarded when Welsby dummied Liam Byrne to go over but, as he extended his right arm out during grounding, he suffered what looked to be a painful shoulder injury which ruled him out for the final 20 minutes.

Jackson Hastings missed the extras but atoned soon after when he put in a pinpoint kick towards Sailor who dotted down under the posts with ease.

Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess:

“I think it was a good night all round for the club. It was the biggest crowd for a long time and a sellout. The connection between the club, the team and town has grown over the off-season and I thought the players played with great spirit tonight.

“I thought Cai had a bit of an indifferent night. He did some amazing things on the ball that we’ve all seen but there’s some parts of his game that he’s still young and raw with.

St Helens boss Paul Rowley:

“I thought we dipped our toe in the water defensively, which is unlike Saints. Maybe you try and have a little think about what the reason for that would be. Maybe it’s overconfidence.

“We came in with a spring in our step to be honest. We were really confident and ultimately I thought Warrington did a really good job. They were more aggressive than us. They were a lot quicker around the ruck.

Warrington: Taylor-Wray; Thewlis, King, Hopoate, Smith; Williams, Sneyd; Yates, Walker, Byrne, Stone, Harrison, Currie.

Interchanges: Sipley, Crowther, Philbin, Tanginoa.

St Helens: Welsby; Feldt, Robertson, Macdonald, Cross; Sailor, Hastings; Klemmer, Clark, Delaney, Wright, Whitley, Shorrocks.

Interchanges: Lomax, Walmsley, Host, Dagnall.