Warrington Wolves 26 Wakefield Wildcats 40: Play-offs remain in sight for dogged Wakefield

Chris Riley scored a hat-trick of tries against parent club Warrington as Wakefield kept their top-eight hopes alive with a 40-26 victory.
Wakefield's players celebrate their win over Warrington.Wakefield's players celebrate their win over Warrington.
Wakefield's players celebrate their win over Warrington.

Riley, who has been on loan at Belle Vue after playing for Warrington in their opening game of the season, crossed twice in the first half and added another after the break to stun the Wolves.

Richie Mathers, another ex-Warrington player, scored the Wildcats’ sixth try to seal a deserved win for Wakefield – their first against the Wolves in 10 attempts.

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Wakefield boss James Webster recalled Jarrod Sammut at stand-off with Matty Wildie back on the bench.

The Wolves scored arguably the quickest try of the season with Rhys Evans finishing off a full length of the field move after only 30 seconds. Gareth O’Brien sent Ben Currie away after the first drive and Evans was too quick for the Wakefield defence.

But a former Warrington duo combined to fire Wakefield ahead in the ninth minute as they recovered from their shaky start. Mathers joined the line to put Riley over in the corner with Sammut booting the wide conversion.

The Wolves failed to capitalise on Andy Raleigh’s late tackle on O’Brien with the outstanding Tim Smith intercepting a kick from the scrum-half to relieve the danger.

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Wakefield stunned Warrington after Smith’s break with Danny Washbrook scattering defenders and almost demolishing the post before crashing over. Sammut’s conversion made it 12-4 after 20 minutes.

The Wolves were still recovering when Sammut’s cheeky ball steal allowed Paul McShane to engineer a second try for Riley.

But a Mathers blunder from an O’Brien kick gifted Joel Monaghan his 22nd Super League try of the season with Bridge’s conversion reducing the arrears to 16-10 eight minutes before the break.

Wakefield lost hard-working captain Danny Kirmond after a heavy knock and Warrington could have been back on level terms if Gene Ormsby had been able to take a difficult pass from Bridge. But there was no excuse for Ormsby dropping another Bridge pass with the line open to leave his side trailing by six points at the interval.

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Warrington made another flying start to the second half with the same O’Brien and Currie combination creating a second try for Evans but Bridge was off target with the goal attempt.

Wakefield continued to pile on the pressure with Wolves boss Tony Smith bringing on Myler to try and add zip to their attack.

But Riley completed his treble after Jimmy Keinhorst’s break saw quick hands from Ali Lauitiiti and Reece Lyne put the winger over in the corner with Sammut adding the extras.

Determined Wildcats defence prevented old boy Westwood crashing over before Stefan Ratchford collected his own neat kick ahead to score near the posts and convert his own try to cut the gap to 22-20.

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It was anybody’s game, but a burst by Andy Raleigh allowed Keinhorst to touch down from Tim Smith’s kick and give Wakefield a six point lead on the hour.

Wakefield were forced to produce a top defensive effort to keep out Warrington and opened an eight-point cushion when Sammut slotted over a penalty.

There was never a dull moment with the Wolves giving themselves a chance 10 minutes from time with Ryan Atkins collecting Ratchford’s kick to make it 28-26.

It was Wakefield, though, who scored the next crucial try with Mathers taking Smith’s pass to round Wood with Sammut’s fifth goal restoring the eight-point advantage after 75 minutes.

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Nick Scruton took McShane’s pass to wrap up a superb victory four minutes from time.

“It was a great win especially after last week,” said Wakefield coach Webster. “It’s always tough at Warrington especially with all the ball they had.

“I’m extremely pleased because scoring points has been a bit of a problem.

“At times we were getting pulled apart but we held out well.”

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Warrington Wolves: Russell, Ormsby, J. Monaghan, Atkins, R. Evans, C. Bridge, O’Brien, Hill, Higham, Harrison, Westwood, Currie, Ratchford. Substitutes: Myler, Wood, England, Laithwaite.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Mathers, Owen, Lyne, Keinhorst, Riley, Sammut, T Smith, Raleigh, McShane, Scruton, Gilmour, Kirmond, Washbrook. Substitutes: Lauitiiti, Moore, Tautai, Wildie.

Referee: T Roby (RFL).