End of play-off dream for Wolves?

WARRINGTON’S dream of following up their Wembley success with a top eight finish probably came to an end as they went down 40-16 at Hull KR who avenged their Challenge Cup golden point quarter-final defeat.
But the scoreline didn’t really reflect a game Warrington could have won with a little more composure.
It was the Wolves who scored first after just five minutes after a superb break by Lee Briers who sent Micky Higham under the sticks, with Briers converting in the absence of usual kicker Chris Bridge who failed to make the seventeen.
But the lead was short-lived as Benny Westwood gave away a penalty and from the resulting play Jake Webster raced through an enormous gap with Dobson adding the extras to level the scores.
Back came Warrington as young Tyrone McCarthy, coming off the bench for the injured Ben Harrison, scored his first Super League try, the week afer making just his third professional start at Wembley! Briers again added the extras to make it 6-12.
Within three minutes Rovers hit back when Warrington gave away another silly penalty allowing Paul Cooke to ghost through a gap following missed tackles by Westwood and Matty Blythe. Dobson was wide with the conversion.
A crucial turning point came in the 28th minute when Higham appeared to get the ball over by the posts but was ruled to have made a double movement, even though his ball carrying arm did not touch the ground. The video referee ruled that his momentum had been stopped.
Four minutes later Rovers hit the front as Clint Newton brushed aside Louis Anderson to score, with Dobson adding the extras.
Then as Warrington pushed to get back in the game they were dealt a killer blow as Kris Welham intercepted on the stroke of half time to score by the sticks, with Dobson adding the extras to make it 22-12 at the break.
As the Wolves again pushed to get back into the game, needing to score first after the break, another loose pass by Briers saw Rovers gifted another try as Peter Fox showed the Wolves’ defence a clean pair of heels. Dobson added the goal and at 28-12 and just a week after Warrington’s Wembley exploits the game was gone.
To their credit Warrington never gave up and winger Chris Hicks was rewarded with a try in the corner which Briers narrowly failed to convert.
But just as with their previous scores Warrington only managed to hold Rovers out for three minutes as Newton went over for his second try on 68 minutes which was goaled by Dobson.
Warrington’s Matty Blythe was unlucky not to score when the video referee ruled out his touchdown as he just lost the ball on the line and then f ive minutes from time Newton celebrated his man-of-match performance with his third try, which was again goaled by Dobson to complete the scoring at 40-16.
Although Warrington could mathematically still finish in the top eight if form team Bradford, who travel to Hull and Catalans who visit St Helens both lose, realistically the curtain will now come down on Warrington’s season at the Halliwell Jones on Sunday when they will parade the Challenge Cup after their game with the Harlequins.
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