A FOUR-TRY showing from Cai Taylor-Wray allowed Warrington Wolves’ reserves to complete a second-half fightback and end their recent losing run on Saturday.
Despite their eventual victory over Salford Red Devils, however, there were still elements of the team’s performance that are concerning head coach Ryan O’Brien.
Taylor-Wray, who is preparing to represent England Academy for the first time next month alongside teammates Arron Lindop and Tom McKinney, was the undoubted star as Warrington turned a 16-10 half-time deficit into a 44-22 win at Victoria Park, with four of their six second-half tries coming courtesy of the livewire full-back.
Prop Dan Okoro, who was signed from Bradford Bulls in April, marked his first appearance in the club’s colours by scoring a powerful individual try late on, with Zac Bardsley-Rowe also on the scoresheet after half time.
The Wire had flown out of the traps by taking a 10-0 lead inside seven minutes – Lindop sliced through the Salford line to open the scoring while his fellow centre Ewan Smith touched down shortly afterwards.
However, it was what happened in the rest of the first half, when Salford hit back to lead thanks to tries from Nathan Connell, Brad Hammond and former Latchford Albion forward Charlie McCurrie, that most concerned O’Brien.
“After scoring two early tries, it soon became clear that we had no appetite to get in a set-for-set arm wrestle in the first half,” he said.
“We were careless with the ball, our discipline was poor and we conceded far too many offloads.
“Although I still don’t think we played particularly well in the second half, we did tighten up those areas and managed to get a fair few points on the board.”
Salford’s only riposte after the break was a late try from Fijian prop King Vuniyayawa, but the game had long since been taken away from the visitors.
Wire’s next reserves fixture is on Saturday, June 29, when St Helens are the visitors to Victoria Park.
Wolves: Cai Taylor-Wray; Zac Bardsley-Rowe, Ewan Smith, Arron Lindop, Frank Sergent; Joe Hickey, Adam Whalley; Daniel Okoro, Ben Hartill, Lucas Green, Scott Parnaby, Nolan Tupaea, Sam Marshall. Subs: Zack Gardner, Logan Raughter, Jamie Reddecliff, Bobby Shingler. 18th: Stephen Antrobus
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