Warrington Wolves 48 London Broncos 12, Guardian verdict

But the promoted outfit from the capital took a lot of wearing down before The Wire could celebrate an eighth win in nine outings.

There were prolonged spells in the game where Steve Price's men were forced into desperately defending their own line.

That was the case in the opening quarter of an hour when penalties were 4-0 against Wolves and all the action was at one end of the field.

> Look back over the match coverage as the game unfolded

By that point a week earlier The Wire were leading 18-0 at Hull FC so this contest, which was a lot slower through lying on at the play-the-ball, had an altogether different feel about it.

The confidence from the extra defensive work, and still assembling 48 points by the final hooter, should serve them well in the future.

The team, missing the rested Jack Hughes and Mike Cooper along with injured Jake Mamo, and the large crowd eventually warmed into the contest and a scoring rally of 20 unanswered points settled everyone down prior to the break.

Blake Austin's first try. Pictures: Mike Boden

With the game won midway through the second half two-try Blake Austin was taken off and with skipper Chris Hill not returning for a second spell the Wire side that finished the game strongly was missing many of its leaders.

The break will do those players good, while those still on the field will have taken something from the added responsibility and longer minutes in the legs.

Matty Davis clearly revelled in his opportunity, making his Wire debut against players who were his teammates the previous week while back on loan with his former club.

Matty Davis powers his way forward for The Wire

He was a bundle of energy down the middle, grinding out the metres and like a machine in defence.

One particular big hit left former Bridgewater High School student Matty Fleming flat out on the turf.

Joe Philbin continued his good form on his third successive start and Jason Clark added impetus off the bench.

Joe Philbin, who takes some stopping

It seemed as though much of the damage was done down the centre of the field and then the ball was flashed wing to wing to stretch the Broncos defence.

Lineham was the biggest beneficiary, crossing with a trademark Flying Pig dive into the corner for his first and using his ox-like strength for two more. He had a 50-metre belter ruled out for a forward pass.

Tom Lineham throws himself into the air to avoid Keiran Dixon's challenge

To sum up, it was 'job done'.

INTERESTING NOTES:

. Stadium record crowd for a Wire v London game

. Wolves won their last six meetings with London

. Matty Davis debut for Wire

. First Wolves try for Jason Clark

Jason Clark delighted with his first try for the club

MATCH FACTS:

Super League Round Nine, Friday, April 5, 2019

Warrington Wolves…48 London Broncos…12

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Josh Charnley, Toby King, Ryan Atkins, Tom Lineham; Blake Austin, Dec Patton; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Lama Tasi, Harvey Livett, Ben Currie, Joe Philbin. Subs: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Jason Clark, Danny Walker, Matty Davis

> Steve Price's comments on Wire's win

Broncos: Alex Walker; Kieran Dixon, Ryan Morgan, Matty Fleming, Rhys Williams; Morgan Smith, James Meadows; Greg Richards, Eloi Pelissier, Rob Butler, Jay Pitts, Matty Gee, Will Lovell. Subs: Eddie Battyre, Mark Ioane, Nathan Mason, Matt Davies.

Scoring: Lineham try, 16mins, 4-0; Charnley try, 26mins, 8-0; Austin try, 35mins, Ratchford goal, 14-0; Jason Clark try, 40mins, Ratchford goal, 20-0; Mason try, Dixon goal, 52mins, 20-6; Ratchford try, 55mins, 24-6; Atkins try, 58mins, Ratchford goal, 30-6; Austin try, 60mins, Ratchford goal, 36-6; Gee try, 64mins, Dixon goal, 36-12; Lineham try, 69mins, Ratchford goal, 42-12; Lineham try, 76mins, Ratchford goal, 48-12.

Penalties: Wolves 6 Broncos 5

Referee: Jack Smith

Attendance: 11,718

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