Warrington Wolves Thrash Bradford Bulls 42-4 to Close In on Home Play-Off
Warrington Wolves powered past Bradford Bulls 42-4 at Odsal, a result that lifts them to fourth in the Super League table and puts a home play-off within reach BBC Sport.
The visitors were in control from early on. Ethan Ryan had given Bradford a flicker of hope when he crossed for his 13th try of the Super League season on 14 minutes, but Luke Hooley could not add the conversion. That left the Bulls trailing 6-4 — and it was as close as they would get. By half-time Warrington led 18-4, and the second half was one-way traffic.
Ashton was the standout, grabbing two tries for the Wolves. Philbin, Crowther and Irwin all added their names to the scoresheet as Warrington ran in seven tries to Bradford's one. The scoreline had reached 24-4 by the 54-minute mark Super League, and the Bulls had no answer from there.
Bradford thought they had a second try through Jamie Gill, but referee Aaron Moore ruled it out after Chris Atkin was adjudged to have pulled back Danny Walker as the Warrington defender tried to recover. It summed up a frustrating afternoon for the home side.
What makes this Warrington performance all the more striking is who was pulling the strings. Their half-back pairing — the players who direct a rugby league team's attacking play — consisted of 18-year-old Irwin and 22-year-old Leon Hayes. Two young playmakers steering a side to a 38-point away win is a statement of the talent coming through at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
That youth was complemented by the promise of experience returning. England captain George Williams was set to make his comeback for Warrington in one of the next two games, according to BBC Sport. For a side already winning comfortably without their chief conductor, that is a timely boost.
For Bradford, the gap between the Bulls and the Super League's top sides was laid bare. They scored once, missed the kick, had a second try chalked off, and conceded 42 points at home. Ryan's try-scoring form — 13 and counting — remains a bright spot in a tough campaign.
For Warrington, the arithmetic is simple. Fourth place with a home play-off in sight means the chance to host a post-season fixture at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, where a vocal crowd can make a real difference. Get Williams back, keep the young half-backs learning, and the Wolves look like a side building momentum at exactly the right time.
