Paul Cullen: Back-to-back penalties came and the pace went out of our game

Feb 25 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WARRINGTON Wolves coach Paul Cullen was an unhappy man – despite seeing his side edge home 29-28 in a thriller against Hull KR at Craven Park.

Warrington held on to victory after storming into a 28-0 lead and in the end were only saved by a Mick Monaghan drop goal as Rovers forced their way back into the game.

Missing Matt King and Chris Bridge from last week’s side, the Wolves were 28-0 up inside the first half hour as Rovers showed little of the form which had seen them see off St Helens and the Catalans.

However, the Rovers’ fightback began after an hour when Ben Cockayne and Ben Galea went over, both tries converted by Scott Murrell.

Monaghan’s 72nd-minute drop goal gave Wolves breathing space but Rovers would not give in. Stanley Gene’s break sent in Kris Welham with Murrell converting on 73 minutes and then Daniel Fitzhenry’s try on 75 minutes converted by Murrell almost closed the gap.

Said an obviously upset Cullen: “We were 28-0 up and completely and utterly in control. We then conceded five back-to-back penalties and spent the last 10 minutes of the first half defending our try line.

“To go in 28-4 up at half time was a very fair reflection but to say we are not happy with the penalty count is the understatement of the season. It was seven against us in the first half and six in the second.”

He refused to be drawn further on the matter other than saying it was difficult to work out what some of the penalties were given for.

“We are completely in charge, then the back-to-back penalties came and the pace went out of our game and when we are playing fast we are looking good, when we are not we are not.”

Warrington stormed into an impressive first half lead.

After two minutes Warrington moved the ball from left to right following a penalty, Jake Webster gave Martin Gleeson too much room and he opened the scoring, Lee Briers converting

Seven minutes later Vinnie Anderson sent the flying Kevin Penny away, the winger kicked ahead and Chris Hicks got the touchdown.

A poor pass from Jake Webster was snapped up by Paul Johnson on 18 minutes and he raced in to score from the halfway line. Briers again converted.

More slack defence on 22 minutes allowed Ben Westwood in with Briers’ conversion making it 22-0 and three minutes later Hicks bagged his second try, Briers again adding the extras.

Wolves conceded a series of penalties which ended with Jake Webster opening Rovers’ account on 34 minutes but missing the conversion, leaving them 28-4 down at the break.

After the interval Stanley Gene was put on report in the 51st minute for a high tackle on Simon Grix which led to the Wolves man being stretchered off after landing awkwardly.

Then the Rovers’ fightback began. Ben Cockayne brought off a try-saving tackle on Johnson on 59 minutes and then four minutes later he went in for a fine solo try converted by Scott Murrell. Ben Galea sent in Ben Fisher on 65 minutes, with Murrell again converting.

Briers was then short with a drop at goal but Mick Monaghan’s 72nd minute drop goal gave Wolves extra breathing space.

But still Rovers would not give in. Stanley Gene’s break sent in Kris Welham with Murrell converting on 73 minutes and then Daniel Fitzhenry’s try on 75 minutes converted by Murrell almost closed the gap.

RESULTS

ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE Huddersfield (28) 64. Tries: Robinson 2, Jensen, Brown, Snitch, Elford, Thorman, Lolesi 2, Whaturia, Mason, Raleigh. Goals: Thorman 8. Castleford (6) 12. Tries: Wainwright, Lupton. Goals: Westerman 2. Att: 7,184 Hull K R (4) 28. Tries: J. Webster, Cockayne, Fisher, Welham, Fitzhenry. Goals: Murrell 4. Warrington (28) 29. Tries: M. Gleeson, Hicks 2, Johnson, Westwood. Goals: Briers 4. Drop Goals: Monaghan. Att: 8,704

NORTHERN RAIL CUP Blackpool 10 Barrow 40; Dewsbury 32 Batley 16; Hunslet 22 Gateshead30; Leigh (16) 20. Tries: Alstead, Doran, Kohe-Love. Goals: Watson 4. Widnes (4) 10. Tries: Gaskell, Hill. Goals: Hartley. Att: 3,615; Rochdale 34 Swinton 38; Whitehaven 26 Workington 10; York 24 Featherstone 24

SATURDAY ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE Harlequins RL (10) 34. Tries: Hill, Gafa, Randall, Sheriffe, Paul, McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Goals: Purdham 5. Wakefield (12) 18. Tries: Grix, Obst , Ferres. Goals: Brough 3. Att: 3,176