IT'S two home wins inside a week - and three victories in a row in all - for Warrington Wolves.
A lightning-fast start and end to the first half proved enough to see off Leeds Rhinos and ensure they moved, for 24 hours at least, clear in second spot in Super League.
The Wire were 12-0 up inside five minutes thanks to tries from Matty Ashton and Matt Dufty, who added a second as half-time neared before setting up Rodrick Tai to send them into the break 24-4 up.
There was a brief wobble after the break as Leeds, whose sole first-half try came from David Fusitu'a, threatened a fightback as Lachie Miller and Ned McCormack touched down either side of George Williams' sin-binning for a high tackle.
However, Tom Whitehead settled nerves with his first Super League try and it looked as though Wire would then coast to victory.
That changed late on after Ashton was yellow-carded for a professional foul, with Paul Momirovski crossing immediately afterwards to set nerves on edge again.
However, the final minutes were seen out without further alarm.
Warrington Wolves 30 Leeds Rhinos 18 - post-match reaction
> THE FINAL WORD: Not Wire's finest showing but comfortably good enough
> STAT ATTACK: How Dufty fell JUST short of keeping an impressive run going
> The Wire player singled out for praise by Sky Sports pundits after Leeds win
> THE MORNING AFTER: Job done, the Dufty show and a nervous wait incoming
> Everything Sam Burgess said about Wire's win over Leeds
> Injury blow confirmed for Wire forward after Round 17 win
> WIRE SOCIAL: How fans have reacted to victory over Leeds
> Re-live the action from The Halliwell Jones Stadium as it happened
Match facts:
Super League, Round 17
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Warrington Wolves...30 Leeds Rhinos...18
Wolves: Matt Dufty; Arron Lindop, Rodrick Tai, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Josh Drinkwater; James Harrison, Danny Walker, Paul Vaughan, Matty Nicholson, Adam Holroyd, Ben Currie. Subs: Zane Musgrove, Sam Powell, Jordy Crowther, Tom Whitehead. 18th man: Cai Taylor-Wray
Rhinos: Lachlan Miller; David Fusitu'a, Paul Momirovski, Ned McCormack, Ash Handley; Brodie Croft, Jack Sinfield; Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O'Connor, Sam Eseh, James McDonnell, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith. Subs: Andy Ackers, Sam Lisone, Mickael Goudemand, Alfie Edgell. 18th man: Tom Nicholson-Watton
Scoring: Ashton try, 2mins, Ratchford goal, 6-0; Dufty try, 5mins, Ratchford goal, 12-0; Fusitu'a try, 19mins, 12-4; Dufty try, 37mins, Ratchford goal, 18-4; Tai try, 40mins, Ratchford goal, 24-4; Miller try, 45mins, Martin goal, 24-10; McCormack try, 52mins, 24-14; Whitehead try, 61mins, Ratchford goal, 30-14; Momirovski try, 76mins, 30-18
Penalties: Wolves 7 Rhinos 6
Sin bin: Williams (50mins, high tackle), Ashton (75mins, professional foul)
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 8,471
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