NO side can gift their opponents three tries and expect to win.

That was Wolves' downfall on a night of much endeavour but little reward at Belle Vue on Sunday, against a Wakefield side that proudly sit second in Super League.

John Kear's Wildcats are no mugs and Wolves knew they would have to be at their best to get a result.

As it turned out, they were not and they paid for it.

Despite winning four of their first seven games - equalling their best start since 1999 - Wolves have not reached top gear yet.

They have undoubtedly suffered with injuries and have still managed to grind out results. But they needed that bit extra to topple Wildcats and were unable to produce it.

That said, they valiantly battled back from 16-6 down to lead 24-16 after 53 minutes before helping Wakefield on their way with two presents in the closing stages.

Seconds after Jon Clarke had put Wolves eight points in front, Michael Sullivan slipped and fumbled Jamie Rooney's restart. Ben Westwood gathered but Brett Ferres ripped the ball free and Waine Pryce touched down Ryan Atkins' kick.

The momentum shifted back in Wakefield's favour and, after Ben Jeffries had darted over, Mark Gleeson allowed Olivier Elima to dispossess him and give Tevita Leo-Latu the chance to score the decisive try.

Paul March also benefited from Wolves' generosity in the first half, touching down after Mike Wainwright had found Rob Parker's stray pass too hot to handle.

Wolves, with injured stars Lee Briers and Adrian Morley consigned to the stand, started the game slowly with Wakefield's half-back pairing of Rooney and Jeffries dominating Clarke and the returning Chris Bridge.

But they picked up after the introduction of impressive prop Paul Wood and surged ahead in a similar fashion to last year's club record 22-point comeback at Belle Vue.

That was despite losing Paul Johnson to a broken finger, with Brent Grose switching to left centre and winger Richie Barnett coming off the bench for his 100th senior appearance.

Match facts.

engage Super League XII, Round Seven, March 25, 2007.

Wakefield Trin Wildcats 30 Warrington Wolves 24.

Wildcats: Matt Blaymire; Peter Fox (1t), Jason Demetriou, Ryan Atkins (1t), Waine Pryce (1t); Jamie Rooney (3g), Ben Jeffries (1t); Adam Watene, Tevita Leo-Latu (1t), Richard Moore, Olivier Elima, Duncan MacGillivray, Brett Ferres. Subs used: Ned Catic, Jason Golden, Paul March (1t), Kevin Henderson.

Wolves: Stuart Reardon; Henry Fa'afili (1t), Martin Gleeson, Paul Johnson, Brent Grose; Chris Bridge (1t, 4g), Jon Clarke (1t); Chris Leikvoll, Mark Gleeson, Paul Rauhihi, Ben Westwood, Mike Wainwright, Vinnie Anderson. Subs used: Paul Wood (1t), Rob Parker, Richie Barnett, Michael Sullivan.

Referee: Steve Ganson.

Scoring: Fox touches down Elima's pass after Rooney's 40/20, 3mins, Rooney converts, 6-0; Atkins beats Fa'afili to Jeffries' grubber kick, 10mins, 10-0; Wood powers through several challenges from close range, 25mins, Bridge converts, 10-6; March is fed by Demetriou after Wainwright had not been able to collect Parker's errant pass, 39mins, Rooney converts, 16-6; Bridge steals the ball from Ferres and puts Fa'afili over on the last play of the half, 40+mins, Bridge converts, 16-12; Jeffries loses the ball and Bridge steps his way over, 46mins, Bridge converts, 16-18; Clarke outpaces the Wakefield defence after receiving Martin Gleeson's pass, 53mins, Bridge converts, 16-24; Pryce touches down Atkins' kick after Sullivan had fumbled from the kick-off and Ferres had stolen the ball from Westwood, 55mins, 20-24; Jeffries surges between Wainwright and Clarke, 60mins, Rooney converts, 26-24; Leo-Latu races to the line after Elima had knocked the ball out of Mark Gleeson's hands, 65mins, 30-24.

Pens: Wildcats 4 Wolves 11.

Scrums: Wildcats 8 Wolves 11.

Attendance: 6,119.

Warrington Guardian top men: Wood 3pts, Mark Gleeson 2pts, Clarke 1pt.

Interesting note: Wakefield have scored an impressive 161 points in their five home games this season.