Wolves v Dragons match report


 
 

Warrington Wolves (26) 48
T : Joel Monaghan 3, Ryan Atkins 2, Jack Johnson 2, Ben Currie, Richie Myler
G : Chris Sandow 4, Joel Monaghan, Roy Asotasi

 

Dragons Catalans (0) 6
T : 
Stan Robin
G : Scott Dureau

 

Warrington Wolves skipper Joel Monaghan signed off in style with a dazzling hat-trick of tries on his last appearance at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Monaghan was man of the match as the Wolves beat Catalans Dragons 48-6 to end a run of four defeats in their last five First Utility Super League games since their shock Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Hull KR.

It was an emotional farewell for Monaghan who was playing his last home match for the Wolves alongside Catalan-bound Richie Myler and Roy Asotasi.

The 33-year-old ex-Australia Test winger took his Warrington try tally to 144 in as many appearances since signing from Canberra Raiders with his first treble of the season - also converting Jack Johnson's second touchdown 11 minutes from time.

There was little but pride and the consolation of sixth place at stake with both sides out of contention for the play-offs.

Myler also crossed as Warrington ran in nine tries with Ryan Atkins bagging a brace and the other from Ben Currie.

The Wolves are also saying farewell at the end of the season to Widnes Vikings-bound Chris Bridge, Simon Grix and Gareth O'Brien who were among the absentees against the Dragons. Warrington continued with youngster Johnson at full-back but were also missing Matty Russell, Rhys and Ben Evans, Jimmy Laithwaite, Anthony England, Gene Ormsby and Gary Wheeler as well as Bridge, O'Brien and Grix.

Catalans, whose only away win this season was at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in April, suffered a pre-match blow when Todd Carney pulled out with a back injury with Stan Robin taking over. Hugo Perez became the 100th player to make his Dragons debut when he came on as substitute in the second half.

Warrington took only five minutes to go ahead when a smart offload by Ben Westwood allowed Ashton Sims and Stefan Ratchford to put Monaghan over in the corner.

Then Kevin Penny leapt higher than Jordan Sigismeau to collect a cross-field kick from Chris Sandow for Atkins to cross in the other corner. This time Sandow was successful with the difficult conversion to make it 10-0 after 10 minutes.

Krisnan Inu thought he had opened the Dragons' account when he wriggled over from dummy-half but the effort was disallowed by referee Joe Cobb.

Monaghan brought the house down midway through the first half when he intercepted Scott Dureau's pass to race 90 metres down the wing for a superb second try to stretch the lead to 14-0.

Catalans immediately conceded a fourth touchdown with Penny sending Johnson over for his first senior try in only his third senior appearance, Sandow tagging on the goal.

Another long-range try added to the Dragons' woes with Chris Hill gathering Dureau's kick to send Currie sprinting 80 metres to score under the posts and extend the lead to 26-0 at the break.

The Dragons held out for the first 13 minutes of the second half until another weaving run by Penny handed Atkins his second try.

Catalan were reduced to 12 men after 58 minutes when Ben Garcia was yellow carded for a spear tackle on Sims.

Monaghan completed his treble by taking Ratchford's high kick to cross in the corner and extend the lead to 36-0 before Johnson darted over for his second try and Monaghan converted.

Then Asotasi joined in the party atmosphere, adding the extras to Myler's touchdown. 

The Dragons finally scored four minutes from time when Robin scored from Elliott Whitehead's pass with Dureau converting.

 

Team sheet

Warrington : Johnson, Penny, Ratchford, Atkins, Monaghan, Myler, Sandow, Hill, Clark, Sims, Westwood, Currie, King

Bench : Asotasi, Harrison, Philbin, Dwyer

Dragons : Dragons : Escaré, Bosc, Gigot, Inu, Sigismeau, Robin, Dureau, Elima, Henderson, Lima, Whitehead, Garcia, Baitieri

Bench : Bousquet, Maria, Guasch, Perez

Referee : Joe Cobb

Attendance : 7862