Wolves tamed by Warriors

Wolves exorcised the ghosts of their humiliating 57-16 rout by arch rivals St Helens with a resounding 38-14 victory over Warrington on Friday.

Warrington initially looked the stronger side during a high octane first half at the JJB stadium and went into the break leading by six points.

But as they ran out of steam in the second period the home side began to stamp their authority on the match, running in five tries in 16 minutes to finish off the visitors.

Centre George Carmont opened the scoring for the hosts with a try in the fourth minute, Pat Richards converting to give them a 6-0 lead.

The Warrington reply came on the 14 minute mark, Matt King coming in on the angle from the wing to collect the slip pass and crash over.

Seven minutes later and, with Warrington back on the attack, Vinnie Anderson chased down a delightful chip through the Wigan defence from Michael Monaghan to score the visitors' second.

But the Wolves were unable to stretch their lead after Chris Hicks, who minutes earlier had seen what looked like a clean score disallowed by the video referee, drifted his kick wide of the posts.

Beautiful pass

Eight minutes before half time though 21-year-old Welsh international Andy Bracek gave Warrington a 14-6 advantage after latching onto a beautiful inside pass from Martin Gleeson.

But when Joel Tomkins was brought down stretching for the Warrington line Hicks again fell foul of the video referee who controversially adjudged him to have robbed the ball.

However with six tackles in hand inches from the Wolves goal line the hosts opted to settle for the kick.

Richards duly added the two points to take them into the break trailing by six, with the scores at 8-14.

Warrington began the second half with Vinnie Anderson in the sin bin after he was penalised shortly before half time.

But despite putting ferocious pressure on the visitors, Wigan were unable to make them pay and it was not until 12 minutes into the second half that they claimed a deserved try.

The score came courtesy of Trent Barrett, who ran in for his first Super League try of the year after selling a neat dummy to send two defenders the wrong way.

Richards was on target again to level the scores at 14-14 and just a minute later the home side made it two in two minutes after Gareth Hock split the Warrington defence wide open with an exquisite sidestep and Liam Colbon ran in for the score.

Again Richards maintained his 100 percent record to give Wigan a six point lead.

With the visitors now beginning to look weary the Warriors began to turn the screws and within five minutes Barrett, who returns to Australia at the end of this season, gave the home crowd something to remember him by.

Sloppy defence

Capitalising on a sloppy Warrington defence Barrett barged his way over from close range for his second score after the Wolves had been penalised close to their line. Richards converted to give Wigan a 26-14 lead.

Eight minutes later and a spent looking Warrington side were unable to stop Iafeta Paleaaesina blasting his way through three defenders on a tremendous charge down the field.

The ball found Hock who again split the Warrington defence with another neat sidestep, this time running in for the score himself. Richards' kick gave the Warriors an 18 point lead.

Three minutes later and a now rampant Wigan closed out the game, this time courtesy of Tomkins who showed pace and agility on his run in from 30 metres.

Richards made it seven from seven to seal a dominant second half performance and give the hosts a convincing win.