Leeds torn apart by Wolves

Briers: scored the first and last tries in Warrington's emphatic victory

Warrington moved two points clear at the top of Super League and ended their Headingley hoodoo in some style as they thrashed Leeds Rhinos 42-6 on their home patch.

The Wolves had not won at Headingley for five years but put that record right as they ran in seven tries in a sparkling display to complete a seasonal double over their rivals.

Lee Briers (2), Joel Monaghan, David Solomona, Michael Monaghan, Chris Bridge and Matt King all touched down with Brett Hodgson adding six conversions and a try, while were Leeds only able to muster a solitary score from Danny Buderus.

Warrington made much the faster start and moved ahead on ten minutes after tearing Leeds open down the right flank.

Briers started the move by releasing Hodgson with a sharp pass and, after the full-back had offloaded to Joel Monaghan, Briers was on hand to collect Monaghan's inside pass and force his way over - Hodgson added the conversion.

With their tails up the Wolves continued to boss proceedings and were aided by a series of penalty awards from referee James Child deep in Leeds territory.

Their domination finally paid off on 17 minutes with the right flank again proving profitable, this time it was Richie Myler with the key pass as he released Mongahan who scored for the seventh match in succession with a fine diving finish in the corner.

Leeds grew into the contest as the half progressed and thought they had breached the watertight Warrington defence on 26 minutes only to see a Zak Hardaker effort ruled out by the video ref with his foot having strayed on to the whitewash fractionally before he touched down under pressure from Rhys Williams.

There was more frustration soon afterwards as Brett Delaney spilled forward when trying to ground the ball, but their pressure was finally rewarded when they scored the first try against Warrington's defence since the opening day of the month.

It was Buderus who got his name on the scoresheet, the Australian darting over from close range after Paul Wood had been penalised for holding down in midfield, Kevin Sinfield adding the conversion.

Reasserted control

But if Leeds had finished the first half on the front foot, it was Warrington who quickly reasserted control at the start of the second and they moved further ahead thanks to a piece of magic from Michael Monaghan.

The Wolves number nine danced from right to left towards the Leeds line and, after drawing three defenders, produced a sublime one-handed offload to Solomona who crossed with ease. Hodgson kicked his third successful conversion to move his side 18-6 ahead.

Leeds then paid the price for some indiscipline as Jamie Jones-Buchanan was pulled up for dissent allowing Hodgson to kick a penalty which gave the visitors some breathing space and soon after they all but killed the game with two tries in two minutes.

Prop Gareth Carvell was instrumental in both scores, first producing a storming break from which Bridge would eventually touch down in the corner and then breaking clear again before offloading perfectly to Michael Monaghan who scored next to the posts.

With five minutes left King scored the try his display, which included a stint in the second-row, deserved as he was left with an easy finish out wide on the right after Leeds' exposed and beleaguered defence had been sucked in.

King then turned provider as Briers iced the Warrington cake with his second try of the night, latching on to the Australian's clever kick ahead to gather and dive over allowing Hodgson to kick his sixth and final conversion of the night.