George Williams created a superb late strive for Josh Thewlis to provide Warrington victory simply because it appeared Catalans Dragons had pulled off a outstanding comeback Tremendous League win.
Skipper Williams had scored one attempt to made one other for Jordy Crowther, whereas teenager Zack Gardner added one other on his full debut to seemingly put Sam Burgess’ group within the driving seat with an 18-2 lead at half-time.
Catalans fought again impressively, nonetheless, with on-loan Hull FC hooker Denive Balmforth scoring two tries and full-back Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet – a late substitute for the injured Sam Tomkins – one other to edge the French aspect forward 20-18 with six minutes to go.
Williams had the final phrase by main a Warrington break after which producing a fragile kick with the surface of his boot to feed Thewlis for the successful attempt to make it three successive wins for the Wolves.
The victory sees Warrington transfer to inside a degree of sixth-placed Hull FC however it ought to have been far more comfy after Wire threw away a snug half-time benefit.
There was drama earlier than kick-off after thunderstorms left the floor on the Stade Gilbert Brutus sodden and Tomkins pulled out with a recurrence of his knee damage in the course of the warm-up, that means that Aispuro-Bichet stepped up from 18th man.
There was additionally controversy within the opening levels as Catalans winger Tommy Makinson was pulled again by referee Liam Rush for a knock-on as he was operating clear for the opening strive, just for a video evaluate to again up the participant’s offended assertion that the ball had bounced off his head.
Rush apologised to the house aspect and after Aispuro-Bichet’s penalty had put them forward, Warrington took management.
First Gardner raced onto Marc Sneyd’s kick to attain and Williams marked his 250th Tremendous League look by beginning and ending a pointy transfer.
Sneyd was troubled by an obvious thigh pressure however earlier than he was pressured off he kicked a penalty which takes him degree with former Wigan and Catalans participant Pat Richards because the fifth-highest factors scorer in Tremendous League historical past.
Williams took a hand to extend the half-time lead, kicking by for Crowther to the touch down and with Thewlis including the extras, a16-point hole appeared too huge for a struggling Catalans aspect who’ve now received simply one among their previous 9 matches.
Balmforth, who signed on a month’s mortgage simply over a fortnight in the past, got here off the replacements bench to breathe life into the Dragons, feinting and dashing over to attain.
Aispuro-Bichet then did properly to choose up Makinson’s scruffy offload and rating, and after Balmforth had grabbed his second, Aispuro-Bichet’s third conversion edged Catalans forward.
Warrington summoned one final effort and the inspirational Williams led an assault down the best, exchanged passes with Sam Stone after which, on the gallop, someway dabbed the ball to his proper forThewlis to choose up and rating the successful strive.
