Warrington thrash Broncos to end regular season on high
Betfred Super League
Warrington (26) 54
Tries: Ashton 3, Nicholson 2, Lindop 2, Harrison, Thewlis, Currie Goals: Thewlis 7
London (0) 0
Warrington Wolves winger Matty Ashton continued his superb form heading into the Super League play-offs as he scored a hat-trick of tries against bottom side London Broncos in a 54-0 thrashing.
The England international was the star of the show once more for the Wire, bringing his try-scoring total up to 25 for the season with Matty Nicholson and Aaron Lindop also providing first-half scores.
Further tries from Lindop, Nicholson, James Harrison, Jake Thewlis and Ben Currie completed the scoring in the second-half in a dominant performance which means the Wolves have now scored 120 unanswered points in Super League in their final two regular season fixtures.
Wire finish the season third behind Hull KR on 40 points, meaning they will face St Helens in the play-offs whilst Broncos drop to bottom of the standings on points difference.
The hosts immediately started on the front foot with scrum-half George Williams pulling the strings for the hosts, who went into the match with five wins out of their previous six matches in Super League.
England international Ashton opened the scoring for Wire diving over following a brilliant pass from the in-form Williams and five minutes later, Ashton scored his second when he cut inside from the left touchline to slide over.
Matty Nicholson was next to go over for the Wire, running under the posts to leave a simple conversion for Thewlis to run up the score by 16 points after just over 20 minutes played.
Broncos, who arrived at Warrington a week on after putting on a determined team performance in a narrow 12-8 defeat by Catalans Dragons last time out, were completely overran by a rampant Wolves side and Ashton took full advantage to capitalise on indecisive defending to complete his hat-trick four minutes before the half-time hooter.
More superb work from Williams three minutes later on halfway allowed Lindop to complete the scoring in the first-half with the Broncos' defence unable to stop the speed of the Wolves attack.
Lindop doubled his tally a minute after the restart by which time Broncos were at risk of suffering a defeat heavier than the 66-0 drubbing Huddersfield Giants were handed by Warrington last Saturday.
Substitute James Harrison crashed under the sticks with half an hour to go before Thewlis was awarded a try in the corner via a lengthy video review.
Nicholson then got his second of the night before Ashton went clear and turned provider for onrushing centre Ben Currie to complete the scoring in a dominant display by Sam Burgess' side.
The Wire take on 10-time Super League title winners St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in the second of next week's eliminators on Saturday, 28 September.
Meanwhile, the Broncos' time in Super League came to a crushing end, having been ranked outside of the positions eligible for a top flight place due to a new grading system.
Despite starting the season knowing they would be relegated at the end of 2024, they outperformed expectations, but any hope of finishing above Hull FC and in 11th place took a hit following Friday's bruising defeat.
Warrington: Dufty; Thewlis, Lindop, King, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater; Yates, Walker, Musgrove, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie.
Interchanges: Powell, Wood, Crowther, Harrison.
London: Rourke; Kershaw, Natoli, Bassett, Miloudi; Leyland, Campaganolo; Butler, Jones, Kennedy, Lovell, Adebiyi, Stock.
Interchanges: Tison, Bienek, Meadows, Waine.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
