With the latest Warrington Wolves match against Catalans Dragons being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, we’re taking you back to the 2012 classic between the sides in the season The Wire booked their first ever Grand Final appearance. Here’s how Mike Parsons reported that night

MONDAY night’s 15-6 victory over Catalan Dragons was most un-Warringtonlike but encouraging and welcome.

Not only did the success put a three-point gap between Wolves and one of their main rivals for a home run in the play-offs – as a top two finish would guarantee – it provided further indication that the team are building towards something special.

Rarely do Wolves win a game by scoring only 15 points. You have to go back to the 14-10 win at Huddersfield in February, 2010, to beat it.

Some credit has to go to Catalan for their show of French resistance, while Wolves did suffer a little disruption by losing chief playmaker Lee Briers to Achilles trouble just 40 minutes before kick off.

Warrington Guardian:

All pictures by Mike Boden

England’s Stefan Ratchford stepped into the breach after turning up expecting to watch the game and in those circumstances Wolves overcame the late setback in fine style.

But because Wolves’ attack did sometimes lack some of its fluency, it meant defence was key to victory.

And the way the players toiled for each other, especially when two tries were prevented in the opening five minutes of the second half, the platform was in place for a spark of genius.

Two sparks in fact.

First of all Chris Bridge broke clear and then later in the set Ryan Atkins accepted a fast pass from Ben Harrison and dabbed the ball behind full back Clint Greenshields to pounce for a try that put Wolves 10-0 ahead.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Dragons roared back to cut the gap to 10-6 but Wolves held their nerve and smart thinking to bang over a penalty goal and a decisive Michael Monaghan drop goal ensured the success was in the bag.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

There were heroes across the field, but the work of the pack was first class against big opposition.

Ben Westwood was back to his best on return from injury, while Chris Hill, Garreth Carvell and Harrison were on fire too.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

INTERESTING NOTES:

Lowest scoring Super League match that Wolves have won.

Wolves have not won a lower scoring league match since the 11-2 defeat of Widnes at Wilderspool on Boxing Day, 1994.

Least number of points Wolves have scored in a win since the 14-10 success at Huddersfield on February 28, 2010.

Fewest number of points scored in a match involving Wolves since 8-6 home loss to Harlequins on March 29, 2008.

Lowest number of points Wolves have scored in a match since 24-10 home defeat to Hull on Easter Monday, April 25, 2011.

England cricketer Stuart Broad was among the crowd, along with former England international Neil Fairbrother.

Warrington Guardian:

Some of the pre-match pictures too:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

MATCH FACTS:

Round 20: July 9, 2012

Warrington Wolves...15 Catalan Dragons...6

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Stefan Ratchford, Gareth O’Brien; Garreth Carvell, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison. Subs: Adrian Morley, Mike Cooper, Michael Monaghan, Tyrone McCarthy.

Dragons: Clint Greenshields; Damien Blanch, Daryl Millard, Vincent Duport, Damien Cardace; Leon Pryce, Scott Dureau; David Ferriol, Ian Henderson, Remi Casty, Steve Menzies, Lopini Paea, Jason Baitieri. Subs: Greg Mounis, Sebastien Raguin, Eloi Pelissier, Jamal Fakir.

Scoring: Westwood try, 14mins, Hodgson goal, 6-0; Atkins try, 52mins, 10-0; Baitieri try, 60mins, Dureau goal, 10-6; O’Brien penalty, 67mins, 12-6; Michael Monaghan drop goal, 72mins, 13-6; Hodgson penalty, 80+mins, 15-6.

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 10,570

Top Man: Chris Hill