In-form Warrington dent Leeds' play-off hopes

Betfred Super League

Warrington (24) 30

Tries: Ashton, Dufty 2, Tai, Whitehead Goals: Ratchford 5

Leeds (4) 18

Tries: Fusitu'a, Miller, McCormack, Momirovski Goal: Martin

Warrington Wolves eased to a routine Super League win over Leeds Rhinos, who were playing in front of incoming head coach Brad Arthur.

The Wire, who climb to second in the table, raced into a 12-0 lead in the opening five minutes through tries from Matty Ashton and Matt Dufty.

David Fusitu'a got Leeds on the board but Dufty went in again and Rodrick Tai's score on the hooter made it 24-4 at the break.

Lachlan Miller crossed for the Rhinos before George Williams was sin-binned for the home side for a high tackle and Ned McCormack further reduced the arrears with his first career try.

Tom Whitehead managed to power over from close in for Warrington to quell hopes of a Leeds comeback before Paul Momirovski went over for the away side late on after Ashton was sin-binned for a professional foul.

Leeds remain two points behind sixth-placed Catalans who now have a game in hand.

Warrington have won their past three games and are two points behind table-topping Wigan, albeit having played two games more.

New Rhinos coach Arthur only arrived in the country from Australia earlier on Thursday and he saw his new charges make a terrible start.

Rhyse Martin's handling error gave the hosts excellent field position and Ashton capitalised to touch down from a Williams kick and they made it back-to-back scores when Dufty raced in after some lax Leeds defence.

The Rhinos had won their previous two games under interim coaches Chev Walker and Scott Grix and fought back through Fusitu'a's finish in the corner from a hanging Brodie Croft kick.

However, the home side ended the half as they started it with quick tries from the in-form Dufty and Tai's opportunistic score from a ricochet on a kick through to lead comfortably at half-time.

Arthur, who has signed a deal through to the end of the season, will have been buoyed with how his new side dug in and got to within 10 points but Whitehead's try, given after a long video review, put an end to their slim hopes of a positive result.

Sam Burgess' Wire travel to rivals St Helens next Friday, while Leeds host Hull KR next Saturday in Arthur's first match.

Warrington: Dufty; Lindop, Tai, Ratchford, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater; Harrison, Walker, Vaughan, Nicholson, Holroyd, Currie.

Interchanges: Musgrove, Crowther, Powell, Whitehead.

Leeds: Miller; Fusitu'a, Momirovski, McCormack, Handley; Croft, Sinfield; Oledzki, O'Connor, Eseh, McDonnell, Martin, Smith.

Interchanges: Ackers, Lisone, Goudemand, Edgell.

Referee: Jack Smith