59 Comments
Warrington Wolves (14) 27
Tries: Sipley, Hopoate, Smith, King Goals: Sneyd 5 Drop objective: Sneyd
Wakefield Trinity (2) 16
Tries: Jowitt, Myers, Pratt Goals: Jowitt 2
Warrington made it through a strong Wakefield fightback in the second half to make it 2 wins from two in Super League.
The Wolves, who were coming off the back of a blank weekend since of Hull Kingston Rovers' participation in the World Club Challenge, seemed to have actually taken a company grip on the game in the first half.
Tries from Toafofoa Sipley and Albert Hopoate, in addition to the dependable kicking of Marc Sneyd, had them 14-2 up at the break.
Trinity, who chalked up their first win of the season at Huddersfield recently, returned well as Jake Trueman brilliantly produced attempts for Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers.
Wire replied as Australian newbie Josh Smith crossed for his very first try but Oliver Pratt's score for Trinity set up a nervy ending, with the result settled by Sneyd's drop goal and Toby King's late shot.
Wire provided additional evidence that they might make a fist of challenging for honours this season as Sneyd provided a kicking masterclass and they had the defensive durability to hold firm as Trinity came great.
Wakefield had actually won the previous 3 meetings of these 2, however they were quickly in problem as Sneyd slotted over a charge and after that video referee Chris Kendall reversed an on-field decision of "no shot" to provide Sipley four points.
A couple of minutes later on, Hopoate supported Danny Walker's break to streak away for another shot for 14-0.
Wire seemed to have made a costly error as they reacted to strong Wakefield pressure right at the end of the half by dedicating repeat offenses which saw Sipley sin-binned and Jowitt kick the resulting charge to offer his side a toe-hold.
That became a firmer platform early in the 2nd half as Trinity utilized the additional man, Trueman slinging a great pass over the top for Jowitt to score in the corner.
Sipley's first act on going back to the field was a ruck infringement which caused Trueman developing an even much better looping cut-out pass and Myers completed to cut the cause simply 4 points.
That spurred Wire into action after a drop in pace and Sneyd's boot took control as he broke the ball out to Smith, playing first-rate rugby for the very first time, to score his first try, which Sneyd converted and after that added a charge to provide his side breathing area.
Pratt then got on the end of a great 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 appeared specific to score as Myers spotted for the corner but 20-year-old full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, who wowed the crowd with his assaulting expertise versus St Helens, produced a stunning take on to bundle him into touch and retain the lead.
Sneyd dropped an objective and after that cracked another delicate kick to the corner for Smith to grab and pass in mid-air for King to eliminate any doubt.
Six-try St Helens surge Catalans in Perpignan
'A truly top quality game'
"It was an actually high-quality video game. Both sides were at 90-something percent conclusion.
"They were physical and we needed to ride out the first half but the game lost its way a bit in the second half - [it was] not down to the players, it simply got a bit stop-start.
"In the very first half we could have attacked a little better. There are locations we can take a look at where we can challenge a little bit more and ask a couple of more concerns.
"The method the video game is going, it will take groups 8 to 10 weeks to figure it out, and it's the exact same with us. Our perseverance was proficient at times and we were 100% in the very first half up until the regrettable sin-binning."
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.
Referee: Liam Rush