Wolves dent Leeds' play-off hopes with Magic Weekend win

WARRINGTON Wolves spoiled the party at Magic Weekend by beating the home city’s team and keep up the pressure on the Super League leaders.

Sam Burgess’ side had to stay patient before eventually defeating Leeds 24-6, as they maintained the two point gap to Wigan at the top of the table, after the Warriors had beaten St Helens earlier in the day at Elland Road.

It was intense display in the first half with just two points scored in the first 37 minutes of the match, courtesy of the boot of Josh Thewlis with a penalty on 10 minutes.

The first try came two minutes before half-time, George Williams scooping up a loose ball spilled by Lachlan Miller, converted by Thewlis to give them an 8-0 lead at the break.

The key moment of the match came on 50 minutes, when a kick by Josh Drinkwater was chased by Matty Ashton down the left wing, and though the bounce didn’t favour him, he was tackled off the ball and in to touch by David Fusitu’a, who was ultimately shown the sinbin after the video referee correctly ruled there was no penalty try.

Warrington made the most of the numerical advantage immediately, Matt Dufty finding his way over for the first of his hat-trick of tries.

His second four minutes later was the pick of the bunch, Danny Walker breaking away from dummy half in the middle of the pitch and putting Dufty under the posts via Williams.

Leeds were all but dead and buried at 18-0, though they might have had a better chance had Sam Lisone not had a try chalked off for a forward pass.

Lisone was sent to the sinbin on 65 minutes alongside Warrington centre Rodrick Tai following an off the ball clash, and with both sides down to 12, Leeds finally got on the board. Rhyse Martin spotted the run of Paul Momirovski, grubbered a kick through and the centre’s angled run was timed to perfection to dive over.

There was only eight minutes left for Leeds to mount a charge, but it never materialised.

In the end, it was Warrington who had the final say, Dufty grabbing his third and all but ending Leeds’ play-off chances.

Warrington: Dufty (3t), Thewlis (4g), Tai, King, Ashton, Williams (t), Drinkwater, Vaughan, Powell, Yates, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie. Subs: Musgrove, Harrison, Walker, Crowther.

Leeds: Miller, Fusitua, Momirovski (t), Newman, Handley, Sinfield, Frawley, Lisone, Ackers, Sangare, McDonnell, Martin (g), Smith. Subs: Bentley, O’Connor, Donaldson, Nicholson-Watton.