Wolves overcome injury challenges
The Warrington Wolves secured an 18-16 victory against Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, moving them level on points with Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos. The win came despite the team facing significant injury setbacks during the match, with Arron Lindop, Josh Thewlis, and Jordan Crowther all leaving the field.
Matty Ashton opened the scoring for the Wolves in the 15th minute, collecting a pass from Ben Currie. Ewan Irwin added the conversion. However, the Dragons quickly responded with Zac Lipowicz crossing over and Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet converting. Lewis Dodd then set up Nick Cotric to give the visitors a lead, resulting in a 10-6 deficit for Warrington at half-time.
The second half saw a resurgence from the Wolves. Albert Hopoate powered over seven minutes into the period, with Irwin’s conversion restoring Warrington’s lead. James Bentley further extended their advantage with a try in the corner. The Dragons, however, kept the pressure on, with Dodd scoring a try and Aispuro-Bichet converting off the post, setting up a tense finish.
A crucial moment in the closing stages involved stand-in full-back Irwin, who made a try-saving tackle to prevent Aispuro-Bichet from snatching a late victory. Dragons captain Benjamin Garcia was later sin-binned for dissent, impacting his team’s opportunity to boost their play-off hopes. Catalans currently sit eighth in the table with 16 points from an equal number of matches.
Impact of injuries and player performances
The victory was overshadowed by the injury concerns for Warrington. Arron Lindop, playing in only his second game back from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, was forced off with another knee problem just 26 minutes into the match. He had only recently returned to action against Leeds Rhinos in Round 15 after a year on the sidelines. The incident that led to Lindop’s withdrawal was placed on report, allowing Adam Holroyd to be activated as the 18th man, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a long-term shoulder injury.
Josh Thewlis also did not return for the second half after sustaining an ankle injury just before the half-time hooter. This led to a tactical reshuffle, with Ewan Irwin moving to full-back, Danny Walker shifting into the halves, and Sam Powell being introduced from the interchange bench at hooker. Additionally, Jordy Crowther was observed limping from the field during the second half, adding to the team’s growing injury list. Toby King was also seen at half-time, continuing his recovery from a syndesmosis injury.
Despite the injury challenges, several players delivered notable performances. Matty Ashton not only scored the opening try but also provided a crucial assist for Bentley’s second-half try. Albert Hopoate‘s try seven minutes into the second half was described as well-taken, helping to put the hosts on the front foot. Ewan Irwin, despite a quiet first half, became heavily involved after moving to full-back, making important tackles and successfully converting two of his three attempts.
Ben Currie was highlighted as a top performer, contributing significantly in defence throughout the 80 minutes and providing key passes that led to tries. He assisted Ashton’s opener and set up Bentley’s try. James Bentley also had a strong game, making a significant tackle early on before scoring his second-half try. Max Wood, recalled early from his loan spell at Hull FC, made his return and contributed from the interchange bench, including a long-range break in the second half.
The team’s ability to overcome a 10-6 half-time deficit and secure the win demonstrates their resilience. This victory follows last week’s 34-6 defeat to the Rhinos, marking a return to winning ways for Sam Burgess‘ side. The Super League season continues with upcoming key dates including Magic Weekend from July 4-July 5, Rivals Round reversed from July 23-July 26, Elimination Play-offs from September 19-September 20, Play-off semi-finals from September 26-September 27, and the Grand Final on October 3.
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Source: skysports.com
