Wolves tamed by Rovers

Newton: Hat-trick hero

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Warrington Wolves saw their hopes of a play-off spot all-but disappear after they were thrashed 40-16 by Hull KR at Craven Park.

Clint Newton grabbed a hat-trick of tries to condemn the newly-crowned Challenge Cup winners to a heavy defeat on their travels.

The Wolves provided stiff opposition for the first 30 minutes but two interceptions by Kris Welham either side of the half turned the tide in Rovers' favour.

Mickey Higham got the visitors off to a flying start when Lee Briers broke through the line and played in the hooker, who finished off the move.

Immediate response

However, Rovers produced an almost immediate response when an impressive turn of pace from Jake Webster propelled him clear of the defence and over the line.

Michael Dobson's conversion levelled the scores at 6-6 before 10 minutes had elapsed in the contest.

Briers almost created another try with quarter-of-an-hour gone when he sent a neat kick into the corner on the fifth tackle but the ball did not bounce kindly in front of Chris Riley and the home side cleared.

The Wolves did extend their lead shortly afterwards, though, when Tyrone McCarthy broke two tackles and crashed over, Briers adding the extras.

After a charge down the field aided by penalties, Paul Cooke slipped through the defence to touchdown for Rovers but the conversion from Dobson was sliced, ensuring the visitors stayed in the lead.

Higham was denied a second try of the match by the video referee after his momentum was ruled to be stopped by a tackle before he reached over the line and grounded the ball.

The decision proved crucial as a powerful solo effort from Newton saw the hosts take the lead when he shook off Vinnie Anderson's tackle.

Dobson passed-up a great chance to extend the advantage when he picked up a Warrington handling error only to knock-on himself with the line at his mercy.

Another interception, this time from Welham, did hand a comfortable lead to Rovers as the 22-year-old ran unopposed from his own half to touch down before Dobson added the conversion to send the home side into the break 10 points up.

Anderson almost brought his side right back into it with a fantastic break in the opennig seconds of the second-half, but the Rovers defence held firm and the danger was cleared.

Opportunities proved harder to come by at the start of the half even though both teams had the ball in strong positions.

Crucial interception

Welham made another crucial interception on 55 minutes and burst through from inside his own half before handing the ball off to Peter Fox, who duly went over for the try.

Even though the sustained pressure continued to come from the Wolves, they could not find the vital breakthrough against a stern Rovers defence.

Chris Hicks did give the visitors a glimmer of hope when he powered his way over the try-line seconds after Paul Rauhihi had been denied by a brilliant tackle from Welham.

But Newton soon erased any hopes of a comeback when he applied a simple finish after a neat offload by full-back Briscoe.

The powerhouse forward then put the icing on the cake by completing his hat-trick after a flowing move from Hull KR.