Super League: Warrington 18-16 Catalans – Wolves level on points with Leeds

Betfred Super League

Warrington (6) 18

Try: Ashton, Hoppoet, Bentley Aim: Irwin d

Catalan (10) 16

Try: Lipowicz, Cotric, Dodd Aim: Aispuro-Bichette 2

Warrington overcame injury problems to move level on points with Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos with a gutsy win over the Catalans.

Wolves, who lost Aaron Lindop and Josh Thewlis to injury, had to play with a reshuffled backline for the entire second half at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, but they dug deep to hold on against the big French side.

Stand-in full-back Ewan Irwin, who crucially kicked three of the three conversions, was the hero, making a superb try-saving tackle on 18-year-old Guillermo Aispuro-Bichette late on to clinch victory.

It was an important bounce-back win for head coach Sam Burgess after last week’s heavy loss to the Rhinos.

Warrington dominated the opening 20 minutes and man-of-the-match Matty Ashton gave them a deserved lead with a well-worked try, but a first-half hydration break changed the tempo of the game.

Within two minutes of the restart, the Dragons leveled with a Jack Lipovich try after an aerial kick by Toby Sexton caused confusion in the Warrington ranks.

Six minutes into the interval, the visitors took the lead with a try to Nick Cotrick following a lovely pass from Lewis Dodd, which cut through three Wolves defenders.

A wrestling match with Aispuro-Bichette saw the Catalans’ center report as Lindop went off with a knee injury, and then Thewlis missed the second half with a hip problem, against Warrington.

But their response was outstanding, with a superb muscular finish from Albert Hoppoet giving them a 12-10 lead.

James Bentley extended the home side’s lead from Ashton’s inside pass with 16 minutes remaining, and Irwin fired wide from wide to put Warrington two points clear.

Dodd pulled a try back for the Catalans with 10 minutes remaining and Aispuro-Bichette looked as if he would win it for the French side, but Irwin – withdrawn from half-back due to obstruction – had the final say.

Warrington: Thewlis, Ashton, Lindop, Smith, Hopoit, Irwin, Hayes; Thomas, Walker, Byrne, Bentley, Currie, Harrison.

exchange: Powell, Crowther, Wood, Tangino, Holroyd (18th man, used)

Catalan: Staines, Cotrick, Ispuro-Bichette, Fatape, Mark, Sexton, Dodd, Allen, Leeming, Navarre, Maria, Lipowicz, Garcia.

exchange: Satay, Condon, Wilson, Laguerre.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths.