Warrington forced to work hard for 32-24 win over Hull KR
Last Updated: 08/03/15 5:58pm
Warrington saw off a late challenge from Hull KR to secure a 32-24 win in the fourth round of Super League.
Warrington were forced to come from behind twice as they managed to dismantle a spirited Hull KR team and move into third place in the First Utility Super League.
Hull KR, on the other hand, remain at the wrong side of the table, occupying last place with just one win from four.
Matty Russell scored twice for the home side as he found good form in his new wing role for Warrington while full-back Stefan Ratchford, on his return from injury, played an important role in his side's tense win.
Warrington lost twice in the absence of Ratchford and he wasted no time in co-ordinating efforts to bring his side victory in a game that could have gone either way.
Hull KR were high on confidence after their 22-20 win over Wigan in the last round of competition, and it was they who opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Terry Campese linked up with Kris Welham to give the necessary space to Josh Mantellato for him to dot down for his first try of the day.
It sparked an ignition from Warrington who then went on to score three tries in just nine minutes, with efforts from Matty Russell, who received a long pass from Racthford allowing him to run around the covering defence, Joel Monaghan and Joe Philbin, making it 14-6 with 28 minutes gone.
In and amongst those tries were yellow cards for Warrington's Ashton Sims and Rovers forward Tyrone McCarthy, who traded punches which earned them time on the sidelines.
With six minutes remaining in the first half Hull KR hit back through a Welham offload that gave Mantellato a chance to cross the line for his second try of the night.
In the second half it was the visitors who gained the lead with a try from substitute forward Kevin Larroyer, who crashed over from short range to give Mantellato his third kick of the night.
Their lead was short-lived as Ben Currie sent Russell charging down the wing and a supporting Gary Wheeler was able to score his first try of the night.
When Russell went over for his second, making the score 26-18 it appeared to be settled, but a Graeme Horne try got the visitors into the game with a two-point deficit before Currie finished off a long-ranging move to give Warrington a 32-24 win.