How hard work in training paid off for Wire's academy side on Saturday

WARRINGTON Wolves’ academy side have been working hard to fix some of their defensive shortfalls of late, their head coach Mark Smith said.

And he says he was delighted to see that work come to fruition on Saturday as his side produced an assured display to beat Hull FC.

The Wire came away with a 28-16 victory in their first game for a month, allowing them to bounce back from their defeat to Wigan Warriors last time out.

Hooker Lewis Barratt touched down twice, with England Academy pick Cai Taylor-Wray impressing again with a superb individual try.

Charlie Walker and Jake Ramsden were also on the scoresheet as Warrington moved into third place in the Academy competition table.

While pleased with their off-the-ball improvements, however, Smith said his young charges still need to work on “execution and decision-making” in attacking areas in time for their next game – Huddersfield Giants’ visit to Victoria Park on Saturday, July 6.

“The team produced an excellent performance away from home at Hull, implementing some fix-ups in our defensive structures that had been falling short of the standards we have set ourselves in previous weeks,” he said.

“Some excellent attacking options got us into good positions, but an area for us to fix up in the coming weeks is execution and decision-making in the final moments.”

Warrington got the scoreboard moving in the early stages when Barratt and Ramsden combined to put Walker through a gap to score, but Hull hit back when Lennon Nicholson was put over in the right corner.

Then, Taylor-Wray lit up the game – receiving the ball inside his own half, he sliced through the defensive line before racing more than 60 metres to score between the posts.

Back came Hull, though, and Jordon Baker’s try meant Warrington turned around at half time with a 12-10 lead, with Frank Sergent’s two conversions to Jack Charles’ one making the difference.

Shortly after the break, The Wire extended their lead when a superb defensive set won the ball back within 20 metres of the Hull line, and the resulting set led to Barratt burrowing over from dummy-half.

Barratt was over again five minutes later as he supported another jet-heeled Taylor-Wray break to put his side in firm control of proceedings, with Sergent converting both tries.

They moved further clear just after the hour mark as Ramsden powered over, but that proved to be among his last actions as he and Hull half-back Charles were both sent off after a flare-up from the restart.

The hosts did at least have the final word when Elliot Middlemas cut in from the wing to score, but Warrington calmly saw out the remaining 10 minutes to secure an important victory.

Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray; Frank Sergent, Zack Gardner, Arron Lindop, Lachlan Webster; Daniel Regan, Junior Westwood; Charlie McKler, Lewis Barratt, Isaac Reid, Charlie Walker, Kian Stanton, Jake Ramsden. Subs: Deacon Connolly, Ben Pearce, Daniel Hackney, Sam Roberts. 18th: Flynn Holden