Betfred Super League
Warrington (22) 34
Tries: Webster, Harrison, Ashton 2, Walker, Philbin Goals: Irwin 5
Hull KR (0) 12
Tries: Gildart, Batchelor Goals: Martin 2
Sin-bin: Lewis (72)
Warrington Wolves rediscovered their early-season form to dominate reigning Super League champions Hull KR and move within two points of second place.
Three defeats in their previous four games had cast doubts over Wire’s play-off credentials but they made light of those fears as tries from Lachlan Webster, James Harrison, Matty Ashton and Danny Walker put them virtually out of sight by the break.
Joe Philbin celebrated his return to action with another in the second half and, after Oliver Gildart had hit back, Ashton took his Warrington try tally to two on the night and 101 in total with a late second score.
Defeat left the Robins, who have now lost three of the last four, in danger of falling out of the top six, with rivals Leigh Leopards kicking off later.
Both sides badly needed a win to reinvigorate their respective flagging bids for the play-offs, with Robins boss Willie Peters conceding before the game that defeat would probably end their defence of the League Leaders’ Shield which they won in such style last summer.
There was little sign of that panache at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, as they began well but misfired at crucial moments, and 19-year-old Wolves full-back Webster punished them with his first Super League try.
Harrison cut through an out-of-sorts defence to extend the lead and, after Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis had been brilliantly held up in-goal by Albert Hopoate, Ashton bagged his 100th try for the club.
Walker was soon in support to score another after Toafofoa Sipley had raced through a gaping hole in the visitors’ defence.
The Robins tried to raise their game at the start of the second half but Wire again soaked it up and hit back as Philbin, back after being out injured for five games, took the lead to 28-0.
Gildart made use of a brilliant Jack Broadbent pass to finally get the away side on the scoreboard, but Lewis’ mounting frustration finally boiled over as he was sin-binned for a late challenge on Ewan Irwin, who kicked the resulting penalty.
Ashton added his second try of the afternoon before James Batchelor notched a late consolation for the visitors.
Warrington: Webster; Ashton, King, J Smith, Hopoate; Irwin, Hayes; Byrne, Walker, Thomas, Holroyd, Harrison, Currie
Interchanges: Sipley, Bentley, Philbin, Tanginoa.
Hull KR: Mourgue; Davies, Martin, Gildart, Booth; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Lawton, Batchelor, Minchella.
Interchanges: Amone, Broadbent, Luckley, Dezaria.
Referee: Liam Moore