WAKEFIELD TRINITY 25 WARRINGTON WOLVES 18
JOHN DAVIDSON, DIY Kitchens Stadium, Saturday

WAKEFIELD hold the advantage in the race for a home play-off eliminator after an Isaiah Vagana brace helped them to a hard-fought victory over Warrington, who they could yet usurp in third.

Trinity moved up to 36 points, two below the Wolves and crucially two ahead of their final-round opponents Leigh with a healthy points difference advantage, after coming from behind to beat the Wire.

A late Cameron Scott effort was enough for Trinity to clinch the tight contest.

It was a tense start for both teams, with Wakefield coughing up the ball a few times in possession. They also conceded penalties, and Leon Hayes kicked two of them to put Warrington 4-0 ahead in the first quarter of an hour.

Trinity only started to build into the game following the introduction of impact substitutes Caleb Hamlin-Uele and Caius Faatili. Lachlan Walmsley had their first half chance down the right flank, but the Wolves scrambled hard to close the space.

On the next set Danny Walker should have scored for the visitors, after a tidy 60-metre Toby King break down the left, but a brilliant tackle from Tom Johnstone held up Walker over the try-line.

After the ball was worked downfield, Johnstone bamboozled Albert Hopoate for the opening try in the left corner and Max Jowitt added the extras to give Wakefield a 6-4 lead.

The lead didn’t last long though, with Josh Smith showing fleet of feet to step his way over with five minutes left in the half.

Hayes’s kick was wide from the sideline, but more points soon came as a penalty gave the visitors another chance and Matty Ashton took it, winning the race to ground George Williams’ grubber kick.

Hayes’ conversion attempt was successful, giving the Wire a 14-6 buffer at the break.

Wakefield started the second half strongly, forcing an early goalline drop-out from which Isaiah Vagana barged his way over for a vital try.

Trinity were riding the momentum and a Johnstone break gave them great field possession. Vagana grabbed his second of the afternoon to put his side in front, stepping through a creaking Warrington defence to dive over.

Jowitt made no mistake with both conversions and Belle Vue was rocking with the 18-14 scoreline.

It got worse for the Wolves with Sam Stone forced off for a head-injury assessment, which he failed.

But there were more twists to come with Hayes popping a smart pass over for Albert Hopoate to touch down. Hayes couldn’t convert, leaving the score deadlocked.

Enter Scott, who grabbed the match-winner with a bullish, tackle-busting run right up the middle.

Jowitt’s conversion and then a late Mason Lino field-goal was enough for Wakefield to ice the victory.

GAMESTAR: Isaiah Vagana got through a mountain of work and his line running was rewarded with a brace.

GAMEBREAKER: Caius Faatili helped turn the tide back in Wakefield’s favour.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Tom Johnstone’s effort to somehow stop Danny Walker scoring in the first half was epic.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Isaiah Vagana (Wakefield)
2 pts Matty Ashton (Warrington)
1 pt Caleb Hamlin-Uele (Wakefield)

MATCHFACTS

TRINITY
1 Max Jowitt
19 Lachlan Walmsley
3 Cameron Scott
4 Corey Hall
5 Tom Johnstone
7 Mason Lino
20 Jack Sinfield
34 Emre Guler
9 Tyson Smoothy
10 Ky Rodwell
18 Isaiah Vagana
8 Mike McMeeken
14 Jay Pitts
Subs (all used)
6 Jake Trueman
13 Jazz Tevaga
15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele
16 Caius Faatili
18th man (not used)
17 Harvey Smith
Also in 21-man squad
21 Jayden Myers
25 Jordan Williams
26 Zac Lipowicz

Tries: Johnstone (26), Vagana (43, 47), Scott (70)
Goals: Jowitt 4/4
Field-goals: Lino (76)

WOLVES
2 Josh Thewlis
4 Albert Hopoate
26 Josh Smith
3 Toby King
5 Matty Ashton
6 George Williams
19 Leon Hayes
16 Liam Byrne
9 Danny Walker
10 James Harrison
20 James Bentley
12 Sam Stone
13 Ben Currie
Subs (all used)
8 Luke Yates
25 Max Wood
24 Kelepi Tanginoa
36 Charlie McKler (D)
18th man (not used)
31 Ben Hartill
Also in 21-man squad
1 Cai Taylor-Wray
11 Adam Holroyd
35 Lachlan Webster

Tries: Smith (35), Ashton (28), Hopoate (58)
Goals: Hayes 3/5

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 0-4, 6-4, 6-8, 6-14; 12-14, 18-14, 18-18, 24-18, 25-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Man of the Match
Trinity: Isaiah Vagana; Wolves: Matty Ashton

Penalty count: 2-4
Half-time: 6-14
Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 9,057