Wakefield Trinity close in on home play-off tie after thrilling win over Warrington Wolves

In a game worthy of being a play-off clash, both sides fought back twice from deficits in an end-to-end contest before a Cam Scott converted try and a Mason Lino drop-goal sealed a superb 25-18 triumph.

Isaiah Vagana and Tom Johnstone returned to the starting 13 after recent injury troubles and they both provided valuable contributions as well.

The result puts fourth placed Trin two points behind third placed Warrington, although the Wolves points difference should keep Wakefield at bay. Trinity will now only be denied a home play-off tie if they lose significantly at Leigh Leopards, who could overtake them, next Friday.

Belle Vue, which has turned into a fortress for Wakefield over the last three years, was vibrant and electric from way before this 3pm o’clock, and Leigh, or whoever, will surely not relish the proposition of facing Trinity here in a one-off showdown.

It was in-form Warrington, who were still in with an outside shout of finishing top of Super League before proceedings, however, which started the brighter of the two sides with Josh Smith making some good metres before Max Jowitt, who will be leaving his boyhood club at the end of the season to move to York Knights, conceded a penalty.

That allowed Leon Hayes to open the scoring with the boot before another penalty from the half-back made 4-0 inside the opening 14 minutes.

After a sluggish start, Trin finally burst into life with Jack Sinfield sending a sumptuous pass out wide to Lachlan Walmsley but he was crowded out. Cam Scott and Mike McMeeken both then went close as Trinity knocked on the door.

Warrington then went straight to the other end and looked certain to score through Danny Walker but Johnstone appeared from nowhere to somehow hold him up on the line.

And the winger, who was returning from injury, went from try-saver to try-scorer in the blink of an eye with Mason Lino, making his first start for a few weeks, and Corey Hall combining well to release him.

Jowitt’s conversion put Trin in front for the first time but a Josh Smith try restored Wire’s lead.

And the visitors went back-to-back at the end of the first half with Matty Ashton reacting quickest to George Williams’ grubber kick, with Hayes’ conversion the last action of a see-saw opening 40.

The home side, with words of head coach Daryl Powell fresh in their ears, came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half and they were right back in the engaging contest on 43 minutes when Vagana powered over for his first.

And it turned into a quickfire double for Vagana and Trin as he charged over to establish an 18-14 lead just four minutes later after Hall and the excellent Johnstone had done tremendously well to get them up the pitch.

But Warrington had not won their past six games without reason and they got back on level terms through Albert Hopoate in the corner.

But today was Trin’s day and when Cam Scott saw a gap, he went for it and barged over before Lino’s late drop-goal settled any nerves.

Trinity now head to Leigh Sports Village with a top four spot in their own hands.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Walmsley, Scott, Hall, Johnstone, Sinfield, Lino, Guler, Smoothy, Rodwell, McMeeken, Vagana, Pitts

Interchanges: Trueman, Tevaga, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili

Tries: Johnstone, Vagana (2), Scott

Conversions: Jowitt (4)

Drop Goal: Lino

Warrington: Thewlis, Hopoate, Smith, King, Ashton, Williams, Hayes, Harrison, Walker, Byrne, Bentley, Stone, Currie

Interchanges: Yates, Wood, Tanginoa, Mckler

Tries: Smith, Ashton, Hopoate

Conversions: Hayes

Penalties: Hayes (2)

Attendance: 9,057