Wolves beat Saints to boost hopes of top-two finish

Betfred Super League

Warrington (12) 16

Tries: Ashton, Crowther Goals: Thewlis 4

St Helens (2) 2

Goal: Bennison

Matty Ashton's sensational solo try set Warrington on the way to a vital win over Super League play-off rivals St Helens and moved them to within two points of second-placed Hull KR.

Ashton danced his way through the Saints defence and darted over in the corner after a frantic start which saw both sides down to 12 men for 10 minutes.

Jordy Crowther then bundled over from close range to secure a 12-2 interval lead for the hosts.

Josh Thewlis added two penalties in a relatively uneventful second half as Wolves closed out victory with the minimum of fuss.

St Helens, who could have leapfrogged Leigh and gone fourth with a win, remain fifth and are in danger of missing out on a top-six Super League finish for the first time.

Paul Wellens' side are under pressure from Leeds, Salford and Catalans, but will be desperate to cling on to a top-four spot and secure a home eliminator in the play-offs.

England winger Matty Ashton signed a new deal in July which keeps him at Warrington until the end of the 2028 season

A clinical performance at Halliwell Jones Stadium kept the hosts on course for a top-two finish and a home semi-final - and they are still in with a mathematical chance of hunting down Wigan Warriors and winning the League Leaders' Shield.

Both sides received harsh yellow cards during an energetic opening, with Lachlan Fitzgibbon departing for Wolves after eight minutes when his side trailed 2-0 to Jonathan Bennison's third-minute penalty.

But after Saints' Matty Lees was sin-binned on 13 minutes, the Wire found their feet.

They soon led 6-2 after an Alex Walmsley handling error gave Warrington possession and Ashton's quality and sheer speed put his side in front before Fitzgibbon returned to the field.

With the outstanding George Williams to the fore, the hosts stayed in control against a Saints side still missing influential players, including the injured Mark Percival and Tommy Makinson.

Some magnificent last-ditch defending kept Wolves at bay until a great offload by Williams gave Crowther the simple task of falling over the line.

Saints, who were at least buoyed by the return of Jack Welsby after injury, cut out the mistakes in the second period.

But they rarely threatened to turn the match around, with Thewlis taking his tally of kicks to four from four to ensure a comfortable Wolves win. which means Saints may need to win their last two games against Castleford and Leigh.

George Williams was a key figure in a dominant Warrington display

Warrington coach Sam Burgess:

"We've improved our mindset – and we're all seeing that in our performances.

"All year we've not had a game blow away from us. We've been in every contest and we're always in the game so I'm proud of our efforts through the year.

“Defensively we were sound again today and although we need to tidy up in other areas, it was a good job done.

“We're aware of the situation we’re in and could do with improving our points difference but there's no need to chase it. If we stay doing what we are doing the points will come but we probably didn't ice some moments today.”

St Helens coach Paul Wellens:

"This is high-end professional sport and you get punished for your mistakes and that's how it should be. There are a number of penalties in there that are avoidable and we need to improve.

"At the back end of the year there can be big momentum shifts so it's an area we need to keep working hard on.

“We are also making too many fundamental errors coming out of our half and on the back of that having to do a fair bit of defending.

“The errors and discipline take a lot of energy from the team so when you get the ball back you are digging deep to find something."

Warrington: Taylor-Wray; Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater, Yates, Powell, Musgrove, Bateman, Fitzgibbon, Currie.

Interchanges: Nicholson, Philbin, Walker, Crowther.

St Helens: Robertson; Ritson, Blake, Mata'utia, Bennison; Lomax, Mbye, Walmsley, Burns, Lees, Whitley, Batchelor, Knowles.

Interchanges: Welsby, Paasi, Delaney, Vaughan.

Referee: Chris Kendall.