Warrington beat Wakefield to extend winning start

Betfred Super League

Warrington Wolves (14) 27

Tries: Sipley, Hopoate, Smith, King Goals: Sneyd 5 Drop goal: Sneyd

Wakefield Trinity (2) 16

Warrington survived a strong Wakefield fightback in the second half to make it two wins from two in Super League.

The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend because of Hull Kingston Rovers’ involvement in the World Club Challenge, seemed to have taken a firm grip on the game in the first half.

Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, along with the reliable kicking of Marc Sneyd, had them 14-2 up at the break.

Trinity, who chalked up their first win of the season at Huddersfield last week, came back well as Jake Trueman brilliantly created tries for Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.

Wire gave further evidence that they could make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd gave a kicking masterclass and they had the defensive resilience to hold firm as Trinity came good.

Wakefield had won the previous three meetings of these two, but they were soon in trouble as Sneyd slotted over a penalty and then video referee Chris Kendall overturned an on-field verdict of “no try” to give Sipley four points.

A few minutes later, Hopoate supported Danny Walker’s break to streak away for another try for 14-0.

Wire seemed to have made a costly error as they responded to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by committing repeat offences which saw Sipley sin-binned and Jowitt kick the resulting penalty to give his side a toe-hold.

That became a firmer platform early in the second half as Trinity made use of the extra man, Trueman slinging a fine pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.

Sipley’s first act on returning to the field was a ruck infringement which led to Trueman coming up with an even better looping cut-out pass and Myers finished to cut the lead to just four points.

That spurred Wire into action after a drop in tempo and Sneyd’s boot took control as he chipped the ball out to Smith, playing first-class rugby for the first time, to score his first try, which Sneyd converted and then added a penalty to give his side breathing space.

Pratt then got on the end of a fine kick by Jack Sinfield to score in the corner and when Jowitt brilliantly nailed the tough conversion, the game was back in the balance.

Wakefield seemed certain to score as Myers streaked for the corner but 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his attacking prowess against St Helens, produced a magnificent tackle to bundle him into touch and retain the lead.

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

Replacements: Sipley, Crowther, Philbin, Tanginoa.

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt; Pratt, Scott, Hall, Myers; Sinfield, Trueman; McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Nikotemo, Vagana, Tevaga.

Replacements: Storton, Pitts, Faatili, Smith.