WOLVES IN HULL FIRE
Try King crowns fine Warrington display
Warrington 20 Hull KR 8 TWO-TRY Toby King delivered a regal display as Warrington beat Hull KR to top spot.
The classy England centre marked his 150th Wolves game in style.
His double helped Sam Burgess’ side storm into a 18-0 lead before he helped stave off a second-half Rovers onslaught.
Both sides hold hopes of claiming a maiden Super League title this year and each knew victory here would put them into first in the table.
Yet Rovers looked anything but contenders as red-hot Warrington surged 12-0 up inside as many minutes.
They targeted KR’s nervous right-edge who looked clueless working out which runners to pick off.
Josh Drinkwater gave space for King to exchange passes with England winger Matty Ashton for the opener.
When Ashton was sent haring for the line again, the only way desperate Joe Burgess could stop him was with a high tackle. A penalty try was awarded and the hosts could easily have been further ahead.
King, 27, got his second and sixth of the campaign when Rovers’ defence got easily confused again, allowing him to step over on 27 minutes.
Josh Thewlis (circled) slotted a third conversion but the visitors gave themselves hope with their first chance of note four minutes later.
Kelepi Tanginoa bulldozed over England captain George Williams to offload for dangerous Niall Evalds, who put Jack Broadbent in to leave them trailing 18-4 at the break.
Rovers, who gave a debut to prop Jack Brown after his move from Hull, got their act together in the second half.
They saw an Evalds try ruled out for a Ryan Hall knock-on and Thewlis also needed to be on hand to deny Jez Litten.
Rovers did eventually cross again when Mikey Lewis regathered his ricocheted kick and scampered over on 51 minutes.
But the England scrum-half again failed to convert and Wire held on.
■ HULL director of rugby Richie Myler says new signing Ben Reynolds will get an instant chance to impress.
The ex-Wakefield scrum-half, who won the Challenge Cup with Leigh last year, yesterday joined on a season-long loan from Hull KR.
He comes straight into the squad for Sunday’s game at winless London.