Wakefield Trinity 12 Warrington Wolves 42: Trinity’s late lapses leaves Agar with defensive challenge

Former Wakefield centre Ryan Atkins scored a hat-trick of tries against his old club but it was Ratchford who played the decisive role as the Wolves completed the double over the Wildcats.

The former Salford utility back, who had been out for 11 weeks after damaging his shoulder in the sixth game of the season, returned a month earlier than expected and made an immediate impact.

Wakefield, who lost 32-30 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in March, were again poised to spring a shock when they hit back to draw level at 12-12 by half-time.

But Ratchford, chosen ahead of veteran stand-off Lee Briers, took a pass from Matty Blythe eight minutes into the second half to restore his side’s lead and made sure of the win with a solo effort on the hour.

The Wolves then piled on the agony for Wakefield with three further tries in the last 16 minutes, all converted by Brett Hodgson, who finished with seven goals from as many attempts.

Wakefield, led out by former Warrington full-back Richard Mathers in the absence of Danny Kirmond with an abductor strain, belied their lowly position with some entertaining rugby that caused all sorts of problems for their visitors. They deservedly took the lead when half-backs Tim Smith and Isaac John combined with loose forward Danny Washbrook to get second row Frankie Mariano charging over for a fifth-minute try, but Warrington demonstrated their class to run in two tries in 13 minutes.

Atkins took Hodgson’s pass to go through a gap for his side’s first try and then sent winger Chris Riley over at the corner after Gareth O’Brien’s long, looping pass created an overlap.

Former Huddersfield full-back Hodgson’s second conversion made it 12-6 but a flurry of penalties enabled the Wildcats to build some pressure.

Centre Dean Collis got over the line but was unable to ground the ball and Mathers had a ‘try’ disallowed for an obstruction before the pressure paid off when replacement forward Steve Southern crashed over seven minutes before half-time to mark his return from a calf strain.

Paul Sykes’s second goal tied the scores and Wakefield dominated the early stages of the second half without being able to crack a superbly-drilled Wolves defence.

A superb offload by Blythe got Ratchford racing over for his side’s third try, to which Hodgson added his third goal, and that effectively ended the game as a contest.

Atkins went over twice in nine minutes to complete his hat-trick and Riley intercepted a pass by Wakefield substitute Kyle Wood to grab his second.

Wakefield remain near the foot of the table and coach Richard Agar admitted he was dismayed by his team’s late lapses.

“We went toe to toe with them in the first half and we could probably be disappointed we didn’t post more points,” Agar said. “We got over the line a couple of times.

“But I felt we lost our way in the second half with the way we used the ball and the big concern is the last 20 minutes.

“While Warrington are a good side, I’m dismayed at the way we didn’t front up for last 20.

“That’s a major concern for me. I would like to have seen us show a bit more resolve. We certainly didn’t handle the pressure well in the last 20.”

Wakefield: Mathers, Fox, Collis, Sykes, Cockayne, John, Smith, Johnson, Aiton, Raleigh, Lauitiiti, Mariano, Washbrook. Substitutes: Wood, Amor, Southern, Trout.

Warrington: Hodgson, Riley, Atkins, Blythe, Williams, Ratchford, O’Brien, Hill, Higham, Wood, McCarthy, Westwood, Harrison. Substitutes: Carvell, Cooper, Grix, Currie.

Referee: T Roby (RFL)