WOLVES Head Coach Jimmy Lowes remained proud of his team despite the curtain coming down on yet another season of disappointment as Warrington were blown away 46-8 by the classy Catalan Dragons.WOLVES Head Coach Jimmy Lowes remained proud of his team despite the curtain coming down on yet another season of disappointment as Warrington were blown away 46-8 by the classy Catalan Dragons.
Winger Justin Murphy bagged four tries as the Catalans crushed Warrington in the
first round of the play-offs.
It was Warrington who took the lead with a Chris Hicks penalty but the lead didn’t last long as the Dragons playing in the first half witht he benefit of a strong wind, led 22-2 at half-time thanks to tries from Murphy (2), Thomas Bosc and Dimitri Pelo.
The game was as good as over as a Casey McGuire try increased the home sides lead soon after the break and then Chris Hicks had the ball knocked from his hands just as he crossed looking odds on to score.
Simon Grix went over for a consolation try for Warrington. But the Dragons ran riot in the closing stages with Gregory Mounis, Clint Greenshields and Murphy (2)completing the rout.
The Wolves went into the game on the back of a four-match losing run and with several players less than fully fit, among them influential forward Adrian Morley. After the match Jimmy Lowes defended the performance.
He said: “We had a few with bumps and bruises but they all put their hands up to play.
“We’ll fully analyse everything next week but I’m very proud of the boys for their effort. We had a real go.”
Lowes singled out captain Adrian Morley for particular praise.
The England prop had been on an intravenous drip and spent time in a hyperbaric chamber in the build-up to the match to combat a stomach muscle injury and lead his side in the play-offs.
“He has gone through a lot to pull a shirt on tonight,” said Lowes. “You talk about the Man of Steel award, well the way he put his body on the line was fantastic.”
There was added disappointment for hooker Clarke who broke his arm in three places and will now miss the chance of playing for England in the Wolrd Cup.
Catalans (22) 46
Tries: Murphy 4, Bosc, Pelo, McGuire, Mounis, Greenshields Goals: Bosc 5
Warrington (2) 8
Tries: Grix Goals: Hicks 2
1 Comment
That’s just about the best attempt at making a silk purse from a sow’s ear I’ve ever heard. The fact of the matter is that the kids in the Wire pack were just blown away by the bigger heavier and more mature players in the Catalan side coupled with the fact that certain of the senior players aren’t living up to expectations. We should have a whip round for a couple of Qantas tickets.