Stunning Display Sees Wembley Return
Warrington Wolves 54 Catalans Dragons 12
Sunday 8th August had finally arrived and the Wolves were set to take on the Catalans Dragons in the second Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final of the weekend.
Primrose and Blue flocked to the Stobart Stadium ready to cheer their team on creating a home game atmosphere.
The first semi-final between Leeds and St Helens a day earlier had seen the Rhinos come away victorious. The question was who would be joining them at Wembley?
The first half seemed to be going all Warrington's way having put 24 points on the scoreboard with no reply but at a crucial point in the game, minutes from half-time, the Dragons crossed for their first converted try. Game on. But the Wolves' flair continued into the second half gaining control with a try after just six minutes as in the previous half.
The Wolves looked to have scored their first try on five minutes with Atkins following up a Monaghan grubber kick to cross the line. But the video referee ruled that Catalans grounded the ball first. This created a repeat set for the Wolves from a goal line dropout, and from this set Ben Harrison caught a pass from Monaghan and forced his way over to touch down on six minutes with four Catalans players trying to hold him back.
This was the boost the Wolves needed. Jon Clarke started the next play with a darting run creating a great attacking position. A Lee Briers' kick cross-field was collected by Louis Anderson who jumped up to claim the ball and touch down.
Warrington were leading 12-0 after 15 minutes but these two tries were followed by a positive period for the Dragons with repeat sets for the Wolves to defend. The defence held up and a hard tackle from Matt King forced Catalans to lose possession before any points could be scored.
A wild pass mid tackle from Morley on the 20-minute mark opened up Catalans attack from half-way once again. Ferriol made a powerful break through the defence to take the Dragons just 20 metres out but the offload in the tackle was claimed by the Wolves and it was then Atkins time to shine and make great metres. Passing out to the wing put Matt King over in the corner for the third try of the game. Westwood kept up his faultless kicking with another successful conversion.
The Wolves' final try of the half came on 32 minutes. A Lee Briers kick was collected by Chris Hicks who made a darting run. Good hands followed, and Monaghan's kick to the corner was collected by Riley for another try
Two minutes from halftime saw Greenshields force his way over the line for the Dragons' first. Catalans showed attacking flair and good handling in the build-up. Bosc successfully converted to take the score to 24-6 at half time.
The Wolves started the second half as they did the first, with great determination. Only a couple of minutes in and Wood looked to have scored the first. However, Atkins ball carrying arm was grounded when he made the offload to Wood, denying the score.
It wasn't long, however, before the first touchdown came through Lee Briers who stretched over for the Wolves' fifth. The build-up to the try saw skilful offloading from Monaghan and a flick pass out from Solomona.
It took a 10-minute spell full of end-to-end rugby before the next score came from the Wolves. Errors from both sides had started to creep in but quick passing from the Wolves and a breaking run through the defensive line put Louis Anderson in for his second of the afternoon. Another Westwood conversion took the score to 36-6 in Warrington's favour.
Minutes after joining the game Richie Myler went over for a breakaway try and the Wolves' seventh, this was followed almost immediately by a powerful run from Louis Anderson to cross for his hat-trick. Warrington seemed to have taken hold of the game as the final quarter got under way.
Jon Clarke was the next on the score-sheet. A powerful run down the right wing gave the Wolves' great positioning and pass back inside to Clarke saw him skip away to touch down under the sticks, an easy conversion for Myler. Score now 54-6.
Warrington looked determined to win in style defending hard to keep the Dragons from scoring but as in the first half Catalans forced their way over with only minutes on the clock for what was a consolation try.
Wolves
Richie Mathers, Chris Hicks, Matt King, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley, Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan, Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Garreth Carvell, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison
Subs: Paul Wood (20mins for Carvell), David Solomona (24mins for Harrison) , Vinnie Anderson (30mins for L Anderson), Richie Myler (56mins for Clarke)
Tries: Harrison, L Anderson (3), Atkins, Riley, Briers, Myler, Clarke
Goals: Westwood (7), Briers, Myler
Dragons
Clint Greenshields, Steven Bell, Sebastien Raguin, Dane Carlaw, Christopher Walker, Thomas Bosc, Brent Sherwin. Remi Casty, Casey McGuire, Jamal Fakir, Olivier Elima, Gregory Mounis, Setaimata Sa
Subs: David Ferriol, Jerome Guisset, Cyrille Gossard, Michael Simon
Tries: Greenshields (2)
Goals: Bosc (2)
08, Aug, 2010
