Dufty hat-trick helps Warrington overcome Leeds

Betfred Super League

Warrington (8) 24

Tries: Williams, Dufty 3 Goals: Thewlis 4

Leeds (0) 6

Tries: Momirovski Goal: Martin

Matty Dufty scored a hat-trick of tries arsenic Warrington Wolves moved level connected points pinch second-placed Hull KR aft a tense Magic Weekend triumph complete Leeds Rhinos.

George Williams showed awesome gait to spell successful for Warrington conscionable earlier nan break successful an edgy first period.

Dufty went successful for nan Wire's 2nd soon aft Leeds were temporarily reduced to 12 erstwhile David Fusitu'a was sent to nan bin, and Dufty added a 2nd soon after.

An ill-tempered 2nd half saw Rodrick Tai and Sam Lisone some yellow-carded, earlier Paul Momirovski's people gave Leeds dream of a precocious comeback.

But Dufty completed his hat-trick pinch 2 minutes to spare to wrap up nan success.

Warrington fell short of nan points needed to usurp Hull KR, who could reclaim apical spot from Wigan connected Sunday if they hit Catalans.

Leeds' conclusion astatine Elland Road intends they grounded to return nan chance to move wrong 2 points of nan play-offs and besides group a marker connected fourth-placed St Helens, who were defeated by leaders Wigan earlier connected Saturday.

Williams' people connected nan verge of nan half-time hooter came courtesy of a crunching tackle from Tai connected Lachlan Miller to dispossess nan Leeds full-back.

The Wire past duly regained possession, teeing up Williams to tally successful from nan halfway statement to return successful an eight-point lead astatine nan break pursuing a finely-poised opening half.

After nan break, it was Warrington who looked much apt to adhd to their constrictive tally, pinch Josh Drinkwater's footwear met by Matty Ashton, who was denied by nan onrushing Fuisitu'a who went to nan bin for a master foul.

The Wire did not return agelong to make their advantage count arsenic Dufty weaved his measurement into a spread successful nan Leeds backline to touch down, but Thewlis missed nan extras.

Leeds, who were without half-back Brodie Croft, who flew backmost to Australia earlier this week connected compassionate leave, past began to spot nan crippled flight them arsenic a superb succession of passes saw Dufty teed up by Williams to spell complete for his 2nd try.

With plentifulness astatine stake, some sides were past reduced to 12 successful nan aftermath of a brawl which was triggered aft Lisone was tackled precocious by Tai pinch nan brace sent to nan bin by referee Chris Kendall.

The Rhinos did people successful awesome manner pinch conscionable nether 10 minutes near connected nan timepiece arsenic Rhyse Martin put successful a superb footwear for Momirovski to pursuit and ground.

Dufty's precocious dash to nan line, though, sealed nan triumph and severely dented Leeds' late-season play-off chase.

Warrington: Dufty; Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater; Vaughan, Powell, Yates, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie.

Interchanges: Musgrove, Harrison, Walker, Crowther.

Leeds: Miller; Fusitu'a, Momirovski, Newman, Handley; Sinfield, Frawley; Lisone, Ackers, Sangare, McDonnell, Martin, Smith.

Interchanges: Bentley, O'Connor, Donaldson, Nicholson-Watton.

Referee: Chris Kendall.