The defence of their title continued at St Helens on Sunday morning and while they had to hold off a strong fightback from their hosts, the young Wires held their nerve to record a 36-24 success.
Isaac Holdsworth and Jack Pendlebury scored two tries each for Daniel Hill’s side, with Ed Williams and Ellis Livesey also on the scoresheet while all six tries were converted by Oliver Bishop.
“The lads produced a professional performance, sticking to what we spoke about leading up to the game,” academy head coach Hill said post-match.
“They showed maturity with the ball and come up with some big plays through desperation and intent in defence, getting them the rewards they deserved.
“It is now about keeping that same intent and looking to improve the parts of our game that was highlighted in certain periods today.”
It took Warrington just three minutes to open the scoring as Holdsworth brushed off five would-be tacklers on a bulldozing run to the line, but Saints hit back when Finley Haigh raced home to level matters.
The two sides swapped tries again – Pendlebury stepping through the defence before Jack Campbell again hit back for the hosts – before The Wire started to move clear.
Pendlebury’s second after exchanging passes with Reece Dobbs gave them a six-point lead at the break, and they set about extending it in the second half.
Holdsworth again proved too powerful to stop from 10 metres out before the prop turned provided for Williams to power over on the right and once Bishop added the conversion, the visitors were 30-12 up and looking set for victory.
However, Saints refused to lie down and two quickfire tries courtesy of Cavell Kibula’s acrobatic finish and Tyler McGann’s clean break reduced the deficit to six points with 10 minutes remaining.
That was as good as it got for the hosts, though, as Warrington kept them at bay before wrapping the game up in the final minute when Leyton Haddrell sent Livesey crashing over.
The next Academy fixture is away at Leigh Leopards on Wednesday, April 22, but the Reserves are back in action this week with a trip to Leeds Rhinos on Friday, kick off 7pm at Stanningley ARLFC.
Wolves: George Welsh; Jack Fallon, Reece Dobbs, Alfie Poles, Alex Wilson; Ethan Holt, Jack Pendlebury; Isaac Holdsworth, Leyton Haddrell, Ellis Livesey, Brady Bottomley, Oliver Bishop, Tom Marshall. Subs: Max Mulqueeney, Jamie Coop, Ed Williams, Zak Brand. 18th man: Regan Parkman