Warrington 22-38 Wakefield: Trinity stun Wolves as Powell’s stuttering start continues

Wakefield sent Warrington crashing to their third defeat of the season with a 38-22 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Wakefield followed up their opening win of the season against Toulouse with a well deserved success and their first victory at Warrington since July 2014.

Mason Lino scored a crucial second-half try and landing seven goals from seven attempts for a personal haul of 18 points.

On his 150th appearance for Wakefield, Matty Ashurst claimed a try with others coming from Liam Hood, Jordan Crowther, Morgan Escare and Corey Hall.

It was another disappointing afternoon for the Wolves who suffered their third successive loss after back-to-back defeats against last season’s Grand Finalists Catalans and St Helens.

They claimed tries through Matty Ashton, Toby King, Josh Thewlis and Danny Walker with Stefan Ratchford adding three conversions.

Winger Josh Charnley served the final game of his two-match ban for the Wolves while Daryl Clark and Joe Bullock were sidelined through injury with Robbie Mulhern missing under concussion protocols.

It meant a start in the front row for captain Jack Hughes while Matt Davis returned from suspension and there were spots on the bench for Ellis Longstaff and Rob Butler.

Jacob Miller returned to the Wakefield side after the skipper missed the win over Toulouse through concussion protocols while Crowther came into the starting line-up for Harry Bowes.

The game got off to an explosive start when inside 90 seconds winger Ashton broke from deep inside in his own half and raced 70 metres for a spectacular try for the home side which Ratchford converted.

But Trinity recovered from that early blow and levelled matters when they kept the ball alive and Hood burrowed his way over from close range.

As play went from end to end, Warrington regained the lead when King touched down a George Williams kick, but back came the visitors and Miller’s pass allowed Crowther to crash over and, with both tries converted, the scores were level at 12-12.

Wakefield’s enterprising play resulted in them taking the lead for the first time eight minutes before the break; Tom Johnstone’s one-handed pass allowed Hall to touch down and Lino landed a fine touchline conversion.

But in the dying seconds of the half a Wakefield knock on deep inside their own half was punished by the home side when Walker and Joe Philbin exchanged passes and the Warrington hooker went in under the posts.

Ratchford was on target with his third conversion of the half to level matters at 18-18 at half time.

Ashurst put Wakefield back in front seven minutes after the restart on his landmark appearance before the Wolves responded just after the hour mark when Thewlis dived over in the corner to give the home side hope.

But a superb individual effort by Lino put the visitors back in command 12 minutes from time and the win was sealed when Escare crossed in the dying minutes with Lino kicking both conversions and also on target with a late penalty to seal a well deserved victory for Willie Poching’s men.

WATCH: Emma Jones and Drew talk Challenge Cup draw, World Cup & pies

Warrington 22-38 Wakefield teams

Warrington: Ratchford, Thewlis, Mata’utia, King, Ashton, Widdop, Williams, Hughes, Walker, Cooper, Currie, Holmes, Davis. Subs: Philbin, J Clark, Longstaff, Butler

Wakefield: Escare, Kay, Lyne, Hall, Johnstone, Miller, Lino, Fifita, Hood, Arona, Ashurst, Pitts, Crowther. Subs: Tanginoa, Whithread, Batchelor, Battye.

Warrington 22-38 Wakefield scorers

Warrington – Tries: Ashton, King, Walker, Thewlis. Goals: Ratchford 3.

Wakefield – Tries: Hood, Crowther, Hall, Ashurst, Lino, Escare. Goals: Lino 7.