WARRINGTON Wolves never looked in danger of an almighty slip-up as they started their Challenge Cup campaign against York on Saturday but they were far from convincing.

Massive underdogs York, a part-time outfit plying their trade two levels below Super League, managed to stay within two converted tries of Warrington for the opening 39 minutes and then restricted Wolves to just one try in the opening 30 minutes of the second period.

It was only after York prop Danny Ekis was sent off for ‘leading with the forearm’ in the 66th minute that Wolves cut free, scoring four tries in the final 13 minutes.

York, inspired by experienced player-coach Paul March and his twin David, had some good moments in the game where they caused Wolves’ defence problems and actually took a sixth-minute lead as they countered a second-minute try from Simon Grix.

Matt King was skinned on the outside for York’s first try and defenders fell asleep as a second try was conceded straight from a play-the-ball inches from the line but head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith was pleased that Wolves sorted out ‘some areas’ before going on to nil York after the break.

The biggest positive for much-changed Warrington was the form of Garreth Carvell on his return to the side, having missed the previous five matches after damaging knee ligaments against Catalans Dragons at the end of February.

Barrel-chested Carvell, strapped heavily to protect his left knee, led Wolves’ go-forward and produced some big hits as he built confidence for tougher tests to come.

Ben Westwood did not look as though he had been away as he produced his usual rough-and-tumble display on his return from a five-match suspension.

Perhaps there was a sign of things to come with Smith giving regular back rower Vinnie Anderson a run at the right centre slot occupied by Martin Gleeson for the past four seasons. The Kiwi produced one of his better performances of the year so far and crossed for two tries.

Smith also had his first look at Chris Bridge starting at stand off, admitting afterwards that he remains unsure if number six or centre is the best position for the former Academy international.

Bridge showed some classy touches and his second-half try took him past the 300 points mark for Warrington.

Match facts

Warrington Wolves 56 York City Knights 10

Wolves: Chris Hicks (8g); Paul Johnson (1t), Vinnie Anderson (2t), Simon Grix (1t), Matt King; Chris Bridge (1t), Lee Briers (1t); Garreth Carvell, Mickey Higham, Paul Wood, Lee Mitchell, Ben Westwood (1t), Ben Harrison (1t). Subs: Paul Rauhihi, Mike Cooper (1t), Louis Anderson (1t), Jon Clarke.

Knights: Danny Ratcliffe (1t); Wayne McHugh, Mike Mitchell, Tom Haberecht, John Oakes; Danny Grimshaw, Paul March; Danny Ekis, Paul Hughes (1t), Adam Sullivan, Rob Kelly, Richard Knight (1g), David March. Subs: Tom Hodgson, Mark Applegarth, Chris Clough, Scott Woodcock.

Referee: James Child

Scoring: Grix crosses from a Bridge pass, 2mins, 4-0; McHugh skirts King and sends Ratcliffe home, 6mins, Knight converts, 4-6; Harrison puts Vinnie Anderson through a huge hole, 9mins, Hicks converts, 10-6; Harrison goes over from first receiver, 16mins, Hicks converts, 16-6; Hughes crashes over from dummy half, 23mins, 16-10; Westwood angles his way past three defenders, 26mins, Hicks converts, 22-10; Cooper storms over from Clarke’s pass, 40mins, Hicks converts, 28-10; Bridge steps two defenders on a dash to the line, 49mins, Hicks converts, 34-10; crosses after swift handling, 71mins, Hicks converts, 40-10; Vinnie Anderson hunts down a long-range Briers kick to touch down, 73mins, Hicks converts, 46-10; Louis Anderson returns from the sin bin to cross, 80mins, Hicks converts, 52-10; Johnson concludes the scoring, 80+mins, 56-10.

Sent off: Ekis, leading with forearm, 66mins.

Sin bin: Louis Anderson, fighting, 66mins.

Pens: Wolves 6 Knights 5

Attendance: 4,709

Warrington Guardian top men: Carvell 3pts, Wood 2pts, Westwood 1pt.

Interesting note: York only managed a drop goal in each of their last two cup ties against Wolves.