Warrington 32-18 Toulouse: Wolves ease relegation worries

Josh McAllister 11 Aug 2022 10:01 PM

Warrington eased their relegation worries with a 32-18 victory over bottom side Toulouse at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Daryl Powell’s side went into the clash just four points above their opposition on the Super League table.

The victory also ended Warrington’s four-game losing streak, having last won at Newcastle’s Magic Weekend against Catalans. It was also their first home victory since the end of June, where they defeated Hull 4-0.

Toulouse remain at the bottom of the Super League table two points away from Wakefield in 11th place.

Match report

Matt Dufty returned from injury and made his home debut for Warrington, named at full-back.

Meanwhile, Tony Gigot returned for the visitors and was named in the halves alongside Corey Norman.

Playing at loose forward, Oliver Holmes opened the scoring nine minutes in. The 30-year-old collected a kick back inside from Ashton to beat Olly Ashall-Bott and score the first of the evening.

Dufty provided a superb pass for Warrington’s second on 14 minutes. The full-back hit Connor Wrench with a cut out pass for the outside-back to score in the corner.

Toulouse scored their first on the 30 minute mark. Half-back Norman sliced his way through from the scrum and his side would go on to cross for two more before the break.

The second came with disbelief inside the Halliwell Jones Stadium on 35 minutes. Eloi Pelissier grounded the ball after Peter Mata’utia deemed to have ripped the ball from an opposition player over the line by the video referee.

Toulouse then took their first lead with three minutes until the break with Pelissier scooting over for a brace.

Stefan Ratchford converted a penalty on the hooter to reduce the half-time deficit to just four.

HT: Warrington 14-18 Toulouse

Toulouse went down to 12-men early in the second half. Joe Bretherton was sent for 10 for holding Ratchford back during a try-scoring opportunity.

As Bretherton was getting ready to return to the field, Warrington levelled the score through Wrench, crossing for his second of the clash.

Ratchford gave the hosts their lead once again with a penalty conversion on 60 minutes.

Harrison Hansen then became the second Toulouse player to be sent to the sin bin the following set for dissent. Moments later, Wrench left the field on 64 minutes with a leg injury.

George Williams secured the victory on 68 minutes much to the delight of the home crowd. The half-back flew through a gap in the defensive line to score thanks to a pass from Dufty.

Ben Currie finished off the scoring with just 90 seconds left. The back-rower, who blew an early chance for the side within their first set, was first to a kick from Williams for a 32-18 victory.

Toulouse failed to register a point in the second 40.

FT: Warrington 32-18 Toulouse

Warrington: Dufty, Wrench, Mata’utia, Wardle, Ashton, Ratchford, Williams, Harrison, D.Clark, Bullock, Currie, Nicholson, Holmes. Bench: J.Clark, Mulhern, Walker, Mikaele.

Tries: Holmes, Wrench (2), Williams, Currie

Goals: Ratchford 5/6, Mata’utia 1/1

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Schaumkel, Jussaume, Hankinson, Russell, Norman, Gigot, Navarrete, Peats, Alvaro, Bretherton, Peyroux, Marion. Bench: Pelissier, Hansen, Belmas, Sangare.

Tries: Norman, Pelissier (2)

Goals: Hankinson 3/3

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