Wolves Crush Crusaders To Go Joint Top

Warrington 46 Crusaders 12

Attendance: 11,113

Alan Domville reporting from The Halliwell Jones Stadium

See the Post Match Press Conference on Wolves.TV

Warrington moved to joint top of Super League after a convincing win against a spirited Crusaders side, recovering from an early 6-12 deficit to rattle up 40 unanswered points.

Another superb display of smart offloading and strong defence proved far too much for the Welsh side and Matt King and Chris Bridge must have covered every inch of The Halliwell Jones grass between them to take the individual honours.

Wolves started without first choice half backs Lee Briers and Richie Myler and also Richie Mathers because of injury but their positional replacements, Simon Grix, Michael Monaghan and Chris Riley all turned in great performances. Rhys Williams was given his a place on the bench for the first time.

Crusaders struck after only five minutes when prop Chris Bryant forced his way over the line near the posts and Michael Witt goaled.

Matt King, hero of the previous game at Huddersfield, soon showed his intent, coming close to scoring twice and in between making an electrifying run in midfield.

King then gained his first reward, finishing a move started by Bridge and the latter converted.

Crusaders hit back on 16 minutes when Lincoln Withers followed up a grubber kick and was judged to have touched down just short of the whitewash.

Witt added the goal points to the delight of Crusaders' considerable army of supporters in the west stand.

This might have been a game Warrington would have lost at this point in the recent past but not this season and on 22 minutes Grix crossed for a try. Bridge converted to level the scores again.

Three minutes from the interval Warrington went ahead for the first time when that man King charged through the visitors' defence to dive over beneath the sticks.

There was still more to come before the hooter. A towering kick from Grix was followed up and, via King, Ben Westwood went over. Bridge converted both tries and Wolves were ahead 24-12.

Three minutes into the second period Westwood was there again, charging over for his second try near the posts. Bridge made it 30-12 and thereafter Warrington's main concern was to improve the points difference.

A superb 40-20 kick (actually it was 40-5) by Monaghan put Warrington in another strong position and after Witt was penalised for an unfair tackle on Riley Warrington's number nine deservedly finished off the move.

After the second of two midfield altercations involving several players the two captains were asked to calm things down by referee Child and immediately afterwards King sent Hicks diving over in the corner. Bridge's conversion brought up the 40.

Warrington's ability to keep the ball alive was mesmerising the visitors with Adrian Morley joining in the fun on his return.

A beautiful grubber by Bridge put King over again but the latter was unable to touch down properly for what would have been his hat trick.

But only a minute later an exquisite offload from Bridge enabled David Solomona to go over. The former added his seventh goal of the afternoon to complete the scoring.

Crusaders will be no push over for most sides this year and will certainly get better - but in Wolves they met what is surely the complete package enjoying strength in depth and producing a brand of football that is a joy to watch.

Warrington Wolves: Chris Riley; Chris Hicks, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Matt King; Simon Grix, Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Mickey Higham, Garreth Carvell, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison.

Substitutes: Paul Wood (for Carvell 20), Solomona (for Morley 29), Vinnie Anderson (for Louis Anderson 48), Rhys Williams (for Higham 31).

Tries: King (2), Westwood (2), Grix, Hicks, Monaghan, Solomona. Goals: Bridge (7).

Crusaders RL: Elliot Kear; Nick Youngquest, Luke Dyer, Vince Mellars, Gareth Raynor; Peter Lupton, Michael Witt; Ryan O'Hara, Lincoln Withers, Mark Bryant, Jason Chan, Weller Hauraki, Rocky Trimarchi.

Substitutes: Frank Winterstein (for Hauraki 30), Adam Peek (for O'Hara 16), Jamie Thackray (for Bryant 20), Lloyd White (for Lupton 50).

Tries: Bryant, Withers. Goals: Witt (2).