Round 25
Warrington Wolves 28 l. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 40

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Wakefield seal play-off position in pulsating clash
Sat August 22, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats made sure of their engage Super League play-off place with a superb 40-28 victory in a pulsating match at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Seven tries and six goals gave the Wildcats victory in a game which effectively ends any remaining hopes Warrington Wolves had of making the final eight.

Wakefield posted their opening score in the third minute after a good kick and chase resulted in Richie Mathers being bundled in to touch.

The ball was worked wide and eventually a gap opened up and Dale Ferguson raced straight through it to touch down.

Brad Drew missed the conversion attempt before the hosts hit back in the fifth minute when stand-off Lee Briers produced a clever chip-kick and gathered. He sent a pass wide, Chris Bridge shipped it on and Kevin Penny finished well in the corner to level.

Bridge missed his conversion attempt before the West Yorkshire club regained the lead just three minutes later when Sam Obst scored a great individual effort.

The Wildcats scrum-half spotted a gap and showed great pace in accelerating through it from dummy half. He stepped his way past three Warrington defenders and rounded Mathers on his way to the line.

This time Drew was successful in tagging on the extras, but with just 14 minutes played the Wolves tied the game once more.

Briers angled a measured kick from right to left and centre Paul Johnson, who juggled with the ball at first, eventually gained control of the ball and dropped over the line.

Bridge converted before the Wildcats crossed for their third score of the evening with 18 minutes gone.

Matt Blaymire drove for the line and somehow slipped the ball out of the tackle to winger Luke George who squeezed over in the corner. Drew was unable to kick the conversion.

The home side took the lead for the first time in the 30th minute when Chris Riley raced the length of the field to touch down after he intercepted a loose pass from Sean Gleeson.

Bridge converted but the Wildcats hit straight back five minutes before the break when Drew created another for the visitors, combining with Scott Grix before Gleeson went over to give Wakefield the edge.

Wakefield then gave themselves their biggest lead of the evening as they crossed just two minutes into the second half.

Drew threw a long pass out wide and George did well to collect the ball and side-step Penny before finishing in the corner.

Penny himself had a try disallowed in the 50th minute when he collected a cross-field kick from Briers - but he was deemed offside, while Adrian Morley was also held up as he stretched for the line.

The game settled a little at 16-26 in favour of Wakefield with Drew nudging the away side further in front with a penalty.

Obst claimed his second in the 61st minute when Drew and Grix combined once more to give him the opportunity to scamper underneath the posts.

Drew sent the conversion over but just two minutes later hooker Michael Monaghan crashed over following a good set of six from the Wolves pack.

Bridge's conversion left the gap at 10 points but young winger Dale Morton crossed in 70th minute for a converted try, while Drew added a further goal late on.

Gareth Carvell crossed for a late consolation but it was too little too late.

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