Wolves beat Saints to boost hopes of top-two finish

Betfred Super League

Warrington (12) 16

Tries: Ashton, Crowther Goals: Thewlis 4

St Helens (2) 2

Goal: Bennison

Matty Ashton’s sensational solo try set Warrington on the way to a vital win over Super League play-off rivals St Helens and moved them to within two points of second-placed Hull KR.

Ashton danced his way through the Saints defence and darted over in the corner after a frantic start which saw both sides down to 12 men for 10 minutes.

Jordy Crowther then bundled over from close range to secure a 12-2 interval lead.

Josh Thewlis added two penalties in a relatively uneventful second half as Wolves closed out victory with the minimum of fuss.

St Helens, who could have leapfrogged Leigh and gone fourth with a win, remain fifth and are now in danger of missing a top-six Super League finish for the first time.

Paul Wellens’ side are under pressure from Leeds, Salford and Catalans, but will be desperate to cling on to a top-four spot and secure a home eliminator in the play-offs.

A clinical performance at Halliwell Jones Stadium kept the hosts on course for a top-two spot and a home semi-final - and they are still in with a mathematical chance of hunting down Wigan Warriors and winning the League Leaders' Shield.

Both sides received harsh yellow cards during an energetic opening, with Lachlan Fitzgibbon departing for Wolves after eight minutes when his side trailed 2-0 to Jonathan Bennison’s third-minute penalty.

But after Saints' Matty Lees was sin-binned on 13 minutes, the Wire found their feet.

They soon led 6-2 after an Alex Walmsley handling error gave Warrington possession and Ashton’s quality and sheer speed put his side in front before Fitzgibbon returned to the field.

With the outstanding George Williams to the fore, the hosts stayed in control against a Saints side still missing the injured Mark Percival and Tommy Makinson - and many other influential players.

Some magnificent last-ditch defending kept Wolves at bay until a great offload by Williams gave Crowther the simple task of falling over the line.

Saints cut out the mistakes in the second period, but rarely threatened to turn the match around, with Thewlis taking his tally of kicks to four from four to ensure a comfortable win.

Warrington: Taylor-Wray; Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater, Yates, Powell, Musgrove, Bateman, Fitzgibbon, Currie.

Interchanges: Nicholson, Philbin, Walker, Crowther.

St Helens: Robertson; Ritson, Blake, Mata'utia, Bennison; Lomax, Mbye, Walmsley, Burns, Lees, Whitley, Batchelor, Knowles.

Interchanges: Welsby, Paasi, Delaney, Vaughan.

Referee: Chris Kendall.