Buoyant Wakefield snap Warriors' winning streak
Winger Tom Johnstone (right) scored the third Wakefield Trinity try against Wigan Warriors [SWpix.com]
Betfred Super League
Wakefield Trinity (10) 16
Tries: Faatili, Griffin, Johnstone Goals: Jowitt 2
Wigan Warriors (0) 10
Tries: Keighran, Field Goals: Keighran
Wigan Warriors squandered their chance to close the gap on Super League leaders Hull KR as they were stunned by an impressive Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue.
Trinity weathered an early spell of pressure before opening up a 10-point lead at half-time through tries by Caius Faatili and Josh Griffin.
Advertisement
The sluggish Warriors failed to find their rhythm and, although Adam Keighran reduced the deficit to four points early in the second half, Trinity cemented their advantage with another score from Tom Johnstone.
Wigan eventually pulled back a late try through Jai Field, but it was not enough for them to stave off a third defeat of the campaign.
The result lifted Daryl Powell's side into the top half of the table and ended second-placed Wigan's nine-match winning run.
Heading into the game on the back of successive defeats, Trinity were immediately under pressure from the champions and spent most of the opening 15 minutes penned back near their goalline.
Advertisement
But the home side held firm, repelling Junior Nsemba's dive for the line before maximising their first genuine attack of the evening as Harvey Smith set up Faatili to spin his man and power over.
Josh Griffin (second from right) scored just before half-time to extend Wakefield's lead [SWpix.com]
That score injected confidence into the Wakefield ranks, with Johnstone denied at the last by Liam Farrell, and Mason Lino's crafty kicking helping to trigger a series of defensive errors from the Warriors.
It was Lino's boot that enabled Trinity to extend their advantage before the interval as the scrum-half's kick split the Wigan line and Griffin eagerly gobbled up the opportunity, with Max Jowitt adding the extras to make it 10-0.
Advertisement
Wigan responded straight after the turnaround, winning two early penalties before Bevan French set up Keighran to gallop through on the right and dive across, and he followed it up with a successful conversion.
However, a mistake by Nsemba shortly afterwards gifted Trinity another set of tackles, and Jake Trueman's looping pass teed up winger Johnstone to score in the corner and restore his side's 10-point lead.
Jowitt, who had missed a routine conversion earlier in the game, was off target again with a penalty kick after Wigan were penalised for obstruction.
But it made no difference to the outcome as the Warriors - who had overturned a half-time deficit to triumph at Huddersfield last weekend - found the recovery job beyond them on this occasion.
Advertisement
Full-back Field narrowed the scoreline with seconds remaining after he collected Harry Smith's chip and raced away to cross the whitewash, but it was no more than a consolation for the champions.
Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, Cozza, Smith, Faatili, Nikotemo, Griffin, Pitts.
Interchanges: Scott, Hood, Vagana, Croft.
Wigan Warriors: Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, Byrne, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.
Interchanges: Havard, Mago, Leeming, Dupree.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hull FC suffer disappointing defeat at Warrington Wolves as side made to rue sloppy account
Warrington Wolves kept their Super League season alive with a 24-10 victory over Hull FC on Saturday evening, and in doing so, silenced any lingering hangover talk following their Challenge Cup final defeat to Hull KR at the start of the month. Advertisement Led by George Williams, who, similarly, put to rest any doubt of his commitment to the Wire's cause following a high-profile transfer link to NRL outfit the Dolphins, the home side was too strong, pulling away at the start of each half to record a win that keeps their play-off hopes very much alive with 11 rounds of the season still to go. As it stands, the Wire are just two points behind seventh-place Wakefield and three behind sixth-place Hull, with Sam Burgess' side showing plenty of craft and courage to earn the two points and perhaps reignite their campaign. READ MORE: John Cartwright reacts to Hull FC defeat as search goes on for key performance answer READ MORE: Highlights as Warrington Wolves keep season alive with victory over Hull FC Advertisement For Hull, it was a disappointing defeat. They weren't at the races to start, and despite a mini resurgence before half-time, they didn't produce for long enough periods to trouble the scoreboard and threaten the result. Aidan Sezer was at the heart of all they did well, but it wasn't enough, with game star Williams in turn producing the goods alongside half-back partner Marc Sneyd to ensure a big win in the context of Wire's season. Hull coach John Cartwright named an unchanged side for the first time this season—and incredibly, the first time since the play-off game at Wire back in November 2020. Meanwhile, Warrington full-back Matt Dufty made an early return from a fractured cheekbone, with centre Toby King dropped. And it was the Wire who started the stronger of the two sides. They got their first try through Josh Thewlis, with Jordan Rapana caught in the defensive line, and the winger, once he broke through, having a clear run to the try line as he raced 80 or so metres following some soft Hull defence. In response, Hull actually shaped up well. They tried to get their halves playing wider with Liam Knight used as the middle link, and at times, it worked to effect. However, it was the home side who came up trumps again, with a slick right-to-left move putting the other Thewlis brother, Jake, over in the corner. The young gun went over untouched, with Marc Sneyd's boot making it 12-0 to the Primrose and Blue outfit. Advertisement Hull needed some inspiration, and as has so often been the case this season, it came through their captain and leading half-back Sezer. The skipper first ran strong, taking a Cade Cust pass to attack the line at pace and burst through before showing the necessary composure to find Harvey Barron to finish in the corner—although whether the pass was legal was certainly dubious, to say the least, with the home crowd screaming 'forward.' But little did Hull care. They were back in it, with Sezer again proving instrumental. The half attacked once more, coming onto Cust's pass again and bursting through the line to score. That put Hull within two points at the break, with a contest that looked like it was getting away from them after an inconspicuous start firmly in the balance. But that Hull fightback was soon laid to rest in the second half—albeit it was the away side who broke and had the chance to score and take the lead. But Wire did just enough to get to a Hardaker pass after a Sezer half break and prevent FC's right edge from running away—with Tom Briscoe failing to take in the pass. That defensive play was rewarded, with Wire then regaining control with two quick-fire tries. First, Sam Powell scooted over from close range, with the veteran hooker smelling an opportunity to strike, before Lachlan Fitzgibbon added a fourth, getting on the end of a crisp move that saw the Black and Whites carved open again. Advertisement Sneyd again made no mistake from the tee, with the Wire 14 points to the good and in the ascendancy once again. They were camped on Hull's line for what seemed an eternity, but the away side miraculously survived. They kept going, with Lewis Martin—his foot in touch before grounding the ball—seeing a try overturned by the video referee. The effort from Cartwright's side wasn't in question, but ultimately, it was all in vain as Wire ran out deserved winners, with two massive games now coming up at the MKM Stadium—first St Helens and then Wakefield. For this Hull side, resurgent but still with a long way to go, next month is certainly make or break. Teams Warrington Starting XIII: 1. Matt Dufty; 2. Josh Thewlis, 20. Connor Wrench, 4. Rodrick Tai, 28. Jake Thewlis; 6. George Williams, 35. Marc Sneyd; 13. Luke Yates, 17. Jordy Crowther, 10. Paul Vaughan; 38. Sam Stone, 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon; 11. Ben Currie Advertisement Interchange: 14. Sam Powell, 27. Luke Thomas, 8. James Harrison, 19. Stefan Ratchford. 18th Man: 39. Tom McKinney Hull Starting XIII: 1. Jordan Rapana; 2. Harvey Barron, 5. Tom Briscoe, 20. Davy Litten, 22. Lewis Martin; 14. Cade Cust, 7. Aidan Sezer; 8. Herman Ese'ese, 9. Amir Bourouh, 40. Liam Knight; 3. Zak Hardaker, 4. Ed Chamberlain; 16. Yusuf AydinZak Hardaker and Ed Chamberlain start with Yusuf Aydin at loose-forward. Interchange: 16. Jack Ashworth, 19. Brad Fash, 24. Jack Charles, 39. Sam Eseh. 18th Man: 27. Matty Laidlaw Scorers Warrington Tries: Josh Thewlis, Jake Thewlis, Powell, Fitzgibbon. Goals: Sneyd 4/4 Hull Tries: Barron, Sezer. Goals: Sezer 1/2 Scoring System: 6-0, 12-0, 12-4, 12-10, HT, 18-10, 24-10, Referee: Chris Kendall. Video Referee: Jack Smith Attendance: 10,235
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
John Cartwright reacts to Hull FC defeat as search goes on for key performance answer
John Cartwright put a sloppy account with the ball down as the catalyst for Hull FC's 24-10 defeat at Warrington Wolves on Saturday evening—with the head coach conceding that he doesn't have an answer to why his side keeps producing error-strewn performances. Advertisement The Black and Whites completed at just over 50%, one of their worst returns this year, and that paved the way for their seventh league defeat of the season. In turn, Warrington built the ascendancy on the back of those errors, with the home side being good value and undoubtedly deserving winners. Keeping their own play-off chase alive, the Wire were comfortably the better team, pulling away at the start of each half. Hull fought back before half-time and certainly made a fist of it at the break, but they couldn't do so again in the second half. READ MORE: Hull FC ratings as Aidan Sezer moments fail to mask under-par team display READ MORE: Hull FC suffer disappointing defeat at Warrington Wolves as side made to rue sloppy account Advertisement For Cartwright, there are still answers to be found, with his side making too many errors, even if their effort and resilience are not in doubt, absorbing countless pressure in the second half. Speaking to Hull Live post-match, he said: "There were just too many errors, simple errors—and especially coming out of our end. They started strong and fast, but we just gave them too many opportunities, and while we were happy to be only two points down at half-time, the scoreboard got away from us—especially in the second half. "We fought really hard during different patches to try and get back in the game, but every time we got the ball, we just turned it over. It's pretty simple, really, and at the end of the day, you just can't win when you give the opposition so many free shots at you. "It was just one of those nights—I don't know why. As a coach, you search for the answer, but it's an answer that no coach in the history of the game has got an answer for. You can have a beautiful day like today, great conditions that are perfect for rugby league, and we completed just over 50% of our sets. I wish I had an answer for that, but I don't." He continued: "It's been going on since 1908. There's no real answer, I don't think. I suppose, at the end of the day, it's having players who don't make errors. That's what makes the good players really good." Advertisement After going down 12-0, Hull fought back to 12-10 at half-time, with Aidan Sezer at the heart of it. On that spell, Cartwright said: "There was a ten-minute block of footy where we were really good, and we held on to the ball, but you don't win playing for ten minutes—the game goes on for eighty. "We've been doing that all year, but for bigger blokes. Today, it was a really important game, and we turned up with a really poor performance. It was really disappointing. "It's got nothing to do with preparation, and their attitude is great. We defended down there for nearly 30 tackles on our try line without having it crossed. "In the modern game, that is really tough to do—the average is about ten or eleven tackles down there. They work really hard for each other, and they save tries together, but we want to be a team that is competing every week, and you just can't make errors like we did. Defensively, we proved we can do it, but we've got to be smarter with the ball." Advertisement Despite the defeat, Hull still have their destiny in their own hands, but they need to be more consistent in their completion, giving themselves a better chance to put blocks of results together. "It's still early on, and I'm not looking at where we sit," Cartwright explained. "It's about putting in a good performance. If you put in good performances, you win games, and everything else takes care of itself." Cartwright also confirmed no injuries came from the loss. "I don't think anyone came off injured," he added. "We've got bumps and bruises as usual, but I think we're okay."
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warrington Wolves' front-running record analysed after Hull FC victory
AFTER watching his Warrington Wolves side pick up a priceless win over Hull FC, Sam Burgess picked up on something important. He admitted the key to his side's victory was establishing control early in the contest, with his side leading for all but the first five minutes of the game. Advertisement Warrington were ahead from the moment Josh Thewlis finished off his long-range break until the final hooter sounded, with Hull only ever getting to within two points of the hosts. Burgess said: 'We've not led a game for some time – I can't tell you how many games but it's been a while since we've led from the start and controlled a game.' In truth, it had not been that long since Warrington scored first in a game – it was indeed the last time they won, against Castleford Tigers last month with Josh Thewlis again striking the first blow in a 34-24 Round 13 victory. The first points in a game have often been key for The Wire, who have won six of the eight games in which they have scored first in all competitions. Advertisement Along with Saturday's victory and the triumph over Castleford, they completed score-first victories in home games against St Helens – twice, in both the Challenge Cup quarter-final and Super League Round Nine – and Leeds Rhinos in Round Six as well as at Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup third round. The two games they have lost having scored first have been at Leigh Leopards in Round Eight – Marc Sneyd edged them ahead with a penalty but they were beaten 18-14 – and at home to Wakefield Trinity in Round Four, when Arron Lindop's try gave Burgess' men an early lead but Trinity ran out 30-16 winners. That gives a 75 per cent win ratio this season when scoring first – but what about recovering from conceding first? Warrington have done so 13 times in all competitions this season and have gone on to lose eight times, giving a win ratio of 38.5 per cent in these matches. Advertisement The last of their five victories when conceding first came in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Leigh, when they recovered from conceding a try to Edwin Ipape inside the first minute to win 21-14 and book their spot in the final. The other four games came in the season's early weeks in victories over Huddersfield Giants, Catalans Dragons and St Helens in Rounds One, Two and Five respectively as well as at Widnes Vikings in the Challenge Cup fourth round.
