2 days Ago
Returning full-back Cai Taylor-Wray was at the heart of their 22-18 victory at Bradford Bulls on Friday as he scored two of The Wire’s four tries and had a hand in another for winger Flynn Holden. In the end, it was the goal-kicking of scrum-half Ewan Irwin, who kicked three conversions out of four, that proved the difference as both sides crossed four times in a game that saw both teams have men sent off in the first half, with Wire’s Joe Bajer and Bradford’s Anthony Boardman seeing red. One of Taylor-Wray’s tries was a dazzling, 80-metre effort similar to the one he scored on dual-registration for Widnes Vikings last week to inspire their Championship win at Doncaster.
Prop Tom McKinney was also on the scoresheet as Warrington then held off a late Bradford fightback. But despite watching his side make it three wins out of three, O’Brien was keen to make clear that the team fell below their usual standards along the way. “We are disappointed with that performance – our attack has been fluid over the last three games, but this week we were disconnected and our execution was poor,” he said.
“Our control of the ruck in defence also dropped off from what it has been lately. “Hopefully from this, the players have learnt how important it is to maintain high standards and good, basic habits in order to progress both as a team and individuals.” Taylor-Wray linked up with scrum-half Ewan Irwin and centre James Duffy to send Holden over for the opening try early on before Bradford hit back to level the scores when Lewis Hagan touched down.
Then, Taylor-Wray stamped himself on the game after breaking through from his own 20-metre line and rounding the Bulls full-back for a dazzling score, but another Hagan try levelled matters at 10-10 before the red cards were dished out on the stroke of half-time – Boardman was dismissed for a late elbow on Irwin and Bajer followed him for running in and causing a fracas. A second Taylor-Wray try plus Irwin’s conversion then put Wire into a lead they would keep for the remainder of the game, but Bradford refused to go away as winger Zack Clayton raced over. McKinney’s powerful effort stretched the visitors into a two-score lead and while a late second try for Clayton halved the deficit, there was not enough time to force another score for the hosts.
The next reserves fixture is on Friday, April 11, when The Wire host their Hull FC counterparts at Victoria Park. Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray; Flynn Holden, James Duffy, Zack Gardner, Lachlan Webster; Joe Hickey, Ewan Irwin; Tom McKinney, Ben Hartill, Isaac Reid, Ewan Smith, Daniel Coop, Sam Marshall. Subs: Daniel Regan, Logan Raughter, Charlie McKler, Joe Bajer.
18th man: Oliver Morgan.
