Wolves back to winning ways
Warrington Wolves returned to winning ways on Thursday with a 46-12 derby win over Widnes Vikings at Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Last Updated: 05/04/12 10:28pm
Warrington Wolves returned to winning ways on Thursday with a 46-12 derby win over Widnes Vikings at Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The visitors made a flying start and forged 12-0 in front with tries from Chris Dean and Dave Allen, both converted by former Bradford man Patrick Ah Van.
A quick-fire double from Chris Bridge brought the Wolves back on level terms. He followed up Gareth O'Brien's break for his first before producing a lovely dummy and fend for his second. Brett Hodgson converted both.
Warrington moved in front for the first time when Chris Riley scored after a lovely step off his left foot, Hodgson maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot by slotting home the conversion.
Hodgson got in on at the act himself after half-time when he collected Richie Myler's pass before putting the ball down untouched, again the Australian full-back added the extras.
Warrington extended their advantage through Ryan Adkins and youngster Brad Dwyer before Riley helped himself to a late brace to complete his hat-trick.
Hodgson finished with seven successful conversions from eight attempts as the Wolves ran out comfortable winners.
Hammering
The Vikings, fresh from a 76-6 hammering by the Dragons, were without seven first-teamers through injury but they made a dream start, catching their hosts cold by scoring two tries inside the opening nine minutes.
Hooker Scott Moore and scrum-half Rhys Hanbury worked the ball out to the right, where centre Dean touched down, and second rower Allen then took Hanbury's short pass to crash over on the burst.
Ah Van added both goals and the Vikings were good value for their lead but Warrington gradually settled into the game once they stopped conceding needless penalties.
England centre Bridge, switched to the pack in the absence of four forwards, started the fightback with two tries in three minutes, finishing off a break by the lively O'Brien and then dummying his way over for a solo score.
Acting captain Hodgson added both conversions to tie the scores and, after Joel Monaghan was denied a try for a forward pass, the Wolves went in front on 28 minutes when centre Ryan Atkins worked his winger Riley over at the corner.
Warrington missed another glorious chance when Myler failed to find unmarked winger Rhys Williams and the Wolves had a let-off early in the second half when Hanbury did wonderfully well to reach the line but lost control of the ball.
Bridge hobbled off, shortly after being held up over the line as he attempted to complete his hat-trick, but there was no way back for Widnes when Hodgson took Myler's pass to dummy his way over on 51 minutes and Atkins tip-toed down the wing for the home side's fifth try five minutes later.
As the visitors tired under incessant pressure on their own line, Dwyer nipped over from close range for his first try for the club and Riley squeezed over twice in the last four minutes to complete his hat-trick.