Wolves rip through Dragons

Warrington will have the chance to retain the Challenge Cup after cruising past Catalans 54-12 in the second semi-final at Widnes.

The holders will face Super League champions Leeds at Wembley on August 28 thanks to a dominant display against the French side.

The Dragons could not cope with Warrington's pace and precision but did themselves no favours by coming up with a string of errors. They would have had to be at their best to spring a second semi-final shock in four years, but they were nowhere near.

Warrington started predictably fast and almost scored after five minutes, as Ryan Atkins pursued Michael Monaghan's kick and Clint Greenshields did well to touch down in goal.

But the respite was barely momentary as the Wolves crossed straight from the resulting drop-out. Monaghan provided the offload to Ben Harrison but the try still took plenty of scoring as the prop carried four tacklers over the line and managed to touch down.

A Louis Anderson knock-on spared Catalans but again Warrington quickly made amends, this time with a brilliant last tackle play, as Lee Briers' crossfield kick was palmed back by Atkins for Louis Anderson to score. Ben Westwood added a second conversion and the Wolves led 12-0.

An illegal play-the-ball on 15 minutes from Adrian Morley gave Catalans their first chance to press the Warrington line, but despite forcing three successive sets of six, they were unable to break through.

Burst

And almost inevitably it was Warrington who scored next, as Atkins burst up the middle and a clever dummy from Matt King brought the Australian centre his 39th try in 80 Warrington appearances.

Eight minutes from the break, Monaghan's crossfield kick was collected by Chris Riley and Westwood slotted the best of his four conversions from the touchline for a 24-0 lead.

A close range score from Clint Greenshields and Thomas Bosc's conversion just before the break proved a glimmer of false hope for the Dragons.

A minute into the second half Paul Wood was denied a try by the video referee because off-loader Atkins' ball-carrying arm had been grounded, but a minute later a wonderful behind-his-back pass from David Solomona put Briers in.

From that point the Catalans' defence began to disintegrate and the Wolves gleefully took advantage.

Greenshields lost the ball in midfield and Louis Anderson powered through a gap to score his second try and Westwood added his sixth successful conversion.

Briers then turned provider, a show-and-go and a break from deep setting up Richie Myler on his shoulder to score with his first touch.

Raced

Straight from the kick-off, Louis Anderson raced 60 metres after a Solomona offload for his hat-trick and this time Briers converted.

The ninth try on 69 minutes was probably the best of the lot as a brilliant handling move down the right wing was finished off by Jon Clarke, a try converterd by Myler.

The contest had long since been settled but Catalans did manage to have the last word, as Thomas Bosc dabbed through and Greenshields touched down.

By then Warrington thoughts were straying to their second trip to Wembley in 12 months, where a tougher challenge surely awaits in the shape of the Rhinos.